FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2025

ABMA Calls on White House to Exempt Canadian Lumber from New Tariffs

Washington, D.C.—The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) is calling on the White House to exempt Canadian SPF lumber from the administration’s newly proposed 25% tariff increase, which—when combined with the existing 15% tariff—will result in a 40% total tariff on Canadian lumber.

ABMA represents over 1,000 independently owned lumber and building material suppliers across the Northeast and Southeast. Its members provide the materials essential for construction and warn that these tariffs will drive up costs without making American lumber more competitive.

Tariffs Will Not Increase Demand for American Lumber

• All SPF lumber used in the Northeast is sourced from Canada, as American lumber is classified as SPFs, a lower-rated category under current grading systems.
• Architectural plans in the Northeast overwhelmingly specify SPF lumber, which means builders must use Canadian SPF to meet project requirements.
• The issue is not price—American SPFs lumber does not meet the same grading standards as Canadian SPF, meaning builders cannot simply switch to U.S. alternatives, even with tariffs in place.

Tariffs Will Directly Increase Construction Costs

• Lumber accounts for approximately 15% of total construction costs, with wood siding adding another 5%.
• A 40% tariff on Canadian lumber will lead to a direct, 1-to-1 increase in construction costs, further straining builders and developers.
• This will not benefit U.S. sawmills, as builders will still be required to source Canadian SPF lumber due to grading and architectural specifications.

“We appreciate the administration’s focus on strengthening domestic industry, but these tariffs will unintentionally burden builders, suppliers, and consumers without achieving that goal,” said Francis Palasieski ABMA Director of Government Affairs. “Given that architectural plans in the Northeast overwhelmingly require Canadian SPF lumber, we encourage the administration to consider an exemption to ensure construction remains affordable while we work together on long-term solutions that support American lumber competitiveness.”

Request for Action

We urge the administration to: 

• Grant an exemption for Canadian SPF lumber from the increased tariffs, preventing an unnecessary rise in construction costs.
• Engage with ABMA and industry stakeholders to address the underlying issue of grading standards that dictate material selection.
• Pursue alternative policy solutions that strengthen the domestic lumber industry without imposing cost burdens on the construction sector.

ABMA welcomes the opportunity to work with the administration on this issue and ensure that trade policies support both domestic lumber producers and the construction industry. We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to further discussions.

About the ABMA

The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA), established in August 2021, is a coalition of unified voices advocating on behalf of the lumber and building materials (LBM) industry at the federal level. ABMA represents LBM dealers and associated businesses across 17 states and Washington, D.C., including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

ABMA’s mission is to advance, shape, and influence policy across all branches of government. Working directly with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies, ABMA strives to ensure that the legislative and regulatory process benefits the LBM industry. The organization is powered by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA) and the Construction Suppliers Association (CSA). For more information, please visit our website.

Contact:
Francis Palasieski
Director of Government Affairs
American Building Materials Alliance
Direct Line: 518-880-6376
Email: fpalasieski@abmalliance.org

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