The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) applauded the decision to ease tariffs in place on steel and aluminum imported from the United Kingdom.
The new agreement with the U.K. establishes a tariff-rate quota that will allow a certain “historically-based” volume of British steel and aluminum to enter the United States without duties. Any shipments above that level would be subject to duties originally imposed by the Trump administration.
“NLBMDA is pleased to see the Biden administration is taking steps to alleviate the current tariffs on British steel and aluminum,” Jonathan Paine, NLBMDA president and CEO, said in a prepared statement. “As the voice of the LBM industry in the U.S., we have had several productive conversations with the Biden administration regarding volatility in building material prices. This action will help to address that volatility and contribute to relieving challenges that currently exist in the residential construction supply chain.”
The NAHB is urging the Biden administration to “move immediately” to negotiate a new softwood agreement with Canada to end tariffs.
“Now that the administration has moved to end steel and aluminum tariffs from the United Kingdom, it must act with the same sense of urgency to negotiate a new agreement with Canada that will eliminate tariffs on softwood lumber shipped into the U.S.,” NAHB chairman Jerry Konter said in a prepared statement. “With the nation in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, the lumber tariffs are contributing to unprecedented price volatility that has added more than $18,600 to the price of a new home since late August. A failure to act decisively will be a bitter blow for American home buyers and for housing affordability.”