In West Palm Beach, Florida, President Donald Trump has put in place measures aimed at bolstering domestic lumber production. On Saturday, he signed two significant directives, one of which mandates the Commerce Department to examine the potential threats that lumber imports might pose to national security.
The president’s executive order is intended to boost the supply of timber and wood products, with the hopes of potentially reducing the costs associated with housing and construction. According to a senior White House official, speaking anonymously, these actions are designed to streamline the permitting processes, allowing for greater salvage of wood from forests and an increase in the availability of wood products for sale.
This executive order isn’t just about timber supply, though. It also aims to assist in the prevention of wildfires and to enhance habitat conditions for wildlife. By simplifying the permits required to obtain wood products, the administration hopes to achieve these environmental and economic goals efficiently.
The official noted that several countries, including Canada, Brazil, and Germany, are providing subsidies for lumber, which reportedly places the United States at a competitive disadvantage. To address this, President Trump has directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to initiate a Section 232 investigation, as per the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, to assess potential national security risks linked to lumber imports.
Earlier in February, President Trump mentioned to reporters aboard Air Force One that he was contemplating imposing a 25% tariff on imported lumber, indicating his administration’s serious consideration of further measures to protect the domestic lumber industry.
