The U.S. Commerce Department has finalized tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
The imposed duties would add 20% or more to the cost of this material. The tariffs will go into effect at the end of November if U.S. trade officials confirm that improper subsidies and dumping practices from Canada have hurt the U.S. softwood lumber industry.
Both U.S. and Canadian officials have indicated that they would rather come to agreement on a deal without any tariffs. This disagreement over a softwood trade deal is part of a decades-long battle between the U.S. and Canada.
The U.S. contends that the Canadian government subsidizes its producers, enabling them to sell to U.S. consumers at below-market rates. The threat of tariffs has inflated U.S. lumber prices recently. About one-third of the U.S. softwood lumber market originates from Canada.
Related Stories
| Feb 8, 2012
Project aimed at economical seismic retrofits on historic Memphis structures
The group will develop a low-cost seismic retrofit model that would benefit aging brick-and-mortar structures. It involves bolting steel brackets to existing wooden floor and ceiling joists.
| Feb 8, 2012
Houston signs on to Better Buildings Challenge
The challenge has about $4 billion in federal and private-sector funds, which it will use for building energy upgrades nationwide in the next two years.
| Feb 8, 2012
OSHA offers free health and safety consulting for small businesses
The consultants offer confidential, non-punitive advice.
| Feb 8, 2012
Controversy over pay for prisoners on roofing job in Michigan
The disagreement was over whether the prisoners should have been paid prevailing wage for their brief time on the job because the project was paid for with a U.S. Department of Energy grant.
| Jan 30, 2012
ZigBee and ISO 50001: Two new standards to make buildings greener
These developments demonstrate the dynamic nature of the market and the continued need for development of program standards of many different types that help builders and owners translate high performance and sustainable buildings goals into practical measures on the ground.
| Jan 30, 2012
New firm-fixed-price rules on federal contracts impact construction industry
Contractors will need to be on the lookout for policies such as the Contractor Accountability for Quality clause.
| Jan 30, 2012
Roofer’s fatal plunge demonstrates need for fall-prevention regulations
“The biggest problem is getting our workers to use the equipment,” says Michael J. Florio, executive director of the organization.
| Jan 26, 2012
Tampa moves to streamlined online permitting system
The system will replace an inefficient patchwork of old software and is designed to provide businesses, homeowners, and contractors with online access to permitting and licensing information.