The National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association (NLBMDA) recently met with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s senior staff and other high ranking Commerce Department officials to discuss the ongoing concerns regarding lumber price volatility and the LBM industry.
The association said it had a “highly productive meeting” with Secretary Raimondo’s office and that the NLBMDA is “confident” in her department’s willingness to find workable solutions to address price volatility.
“We had a very positive and frank discussion about our industry’s concerns, specifically trade barriers to a free market, and the need to re-engage in a new Softwood Lumber Agreement,” NLBMDA president and CEO Jonathan Paine said in a prepared statement. “Secretary Raimondo’s staff was receptive to our concerns and expressed a desire to work closely with NLBMDA to find a resolution to the ongoing lumber price volatility. We appreciate Secretary Raimondo’s willingness to examine all aspects of the construction supply chain and NLBMDA looks forward to engaging the Commerce Department’s request for a series of follow-up conversations with us in the weeks ahead.”
