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<\/span>U.S. Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that would exempt lumber and several other construction materials from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, as industry groups warn that trade measures are increasing housing costs.<\/p>\n The Housing Tariff Exclusion Act, introduced by Senators Chris Coons of Delaware and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, would automatically exclude lumber, OSB, engineered wood products, cement, glass, insulation, plastics, adhesives and stone products from current and future tariffs.<\/p>\n The proposal follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared many of the president\u2019s tariffs illegal, after which the administration moved quickly to introduce a new 10% tariff on global imports that took effect last week.<\/p>\n Lawmakers say the measure has added costs across the housing supply chain.<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s tariffs are making it more expensive to build homes in America, and it\u2019s driving up the cost of housing for everyone,\u201d Coons said. \u201cIn a housing crisis, this is the last thing we should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Rosen said tariffs imposed over the past year have raised costs for developers and made it more difficult to address housing affordability.<\/p>\n Exemptions proposed for building materials<\/strong><\/p>\n The legislation would create automatic exemptions for several materials used in residential construction, including lumber and wood-based panels.<\/p>\n For products not automatically excluded, the bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an expedited application process allowing importers to request tariff exemptions when domestic supply is insufficient.<\/p>\n If passed, the legislation would apply to tariffs introduced since January 19, 2025.<\/p>\n The bill does not affect existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber, which remain in place.<\/p>\n Builders warn of rising costs<\/strong><\/p>\n Industry groups say tariffs are already pushing construction costs higher.<\/p>\n According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), about 60% of builders have reported cost increases linked to tariffs, which are often passed on to homebuyers and renters.<\/p>\n NAHB estimates that tariff-related increases in material costs added between $7,500 and $10,900 to the price of a typical single-family home last year, even before the latest tariff measures were introduced.<\/p>\n More than 93% of U.S. homes are built using timber framing, and the country imports roughly 30% of the softwood lumber it consumes, with about 85% coming from Canada.<\/p>\n At the same time, Canadian lumber duties \u2014 which now exceed 35% \u2014 have added further pressure on builders already facing higher labour and material costs.<\/p>\n Industry groups support the bill<\/strong><\/p>\n The legislation has received backing from several housing and construction organisations.<\/p>\n The National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) said the sector depends on stable trade policy.<\/p>\n \u201cTariffs on essential construction inputs increase costs, create market volatility, and can delay or discourage new housing starts,\u201d said Jonathan M. Paine, president and chief executive of the association.<\/p>\n He said a transparent process allowing exemptions for critical building materials would help stabilise prices and strengthen supply chains.<\/p>\n The National Housing Conference also supported the measure, saying it could help lower construction costs and ease supply chain pressures in the housing sector.<\/p>\n Other organisations backing the proposal include Third Way, Up for Growth Action, Habitat for Humanity, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the Housing Assistance Council.<\/p>\n The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester, Tim Kaine, Angela Alsobrooks, Martin Heinrich and Andy Kim.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" U.S. Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that would exempt lumber and several other construction materials from tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, as industry groups warn that trade measures are increasing housing costs. The Housing Tariff Exclusion Act, introduced by … Continue reading