NLBMDA calls on USTR
The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) sent an open letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in advance of the joint review of the trade agreement between the United States, the United Mexican States and Canada. NLBMDA is a trade association which advances the federal legislative and regulatory interests of the lumber and building materials (LBM) industry.
In this letter USMCA explained their role and recommendations and urged for a new softwood lumber agreement. “NLBMDA strongly recommends that the United States prioritize negotiating a new, long-term SLA with Canada and integrate it into the USMCA framework,” written in the USTR formal comment. “Since the previous agreement expired in October 2015, duties on Canadian lumber have fluctuated year to year, creating uncertainty for LBM dealers and the broader industry”
The letter concludes with a call to work collaboratively for the benefit of consistent supply for builders and long-term economic growth across the continent. Itwas signed by Jonathan M. Paine, CAE President & CEO National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association.
