UPDATE: Tariffs Are Filling the Treasury, Not Driving Up Prices

On October 14, the Administration’s new 10% tariff on softwood lumber takes effect. But here’s the headline for our industry: tariffs are driving federal revenue, not lumber prices.
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When President Trump issued Executive Order 14257 earlier this year, reciprocal tariffs were placed on a wide range of imports. Because of ABMA’s direct engagement in Washington, lumber products were exempted from the start and that exemption was reaffirmed in the September 5 update.

Before the order was finalized, many dealers and suppliers told us they were already raising prices or preparing to do so. That pressure never materialized. Instead, the exemption delivered what our members needed most: stability. As of July 2025, average price increases in the LBM channel were just 2%, proving that the uncertainty was just that — uncertainty — and ABMA’s work ensured it didn’t become lasting volatility.

By securing outcomes like this, we protect our members from policy shocks and deliver the stability the industry depends on.