© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.

How The 20 Percent Tariff On Canadian Softwood Lumber Could Impact Idaho

Richard Lam
/
CP, AP Images
Piles of softwood lumber destined for export, are stacked at a Richmond, B.C., Canada lumberyard, March 20, 2002.

The Trump Administration recently announced a 20 percent tariff on Canadian softwood lumber exports.

The trade dispute over softwood lumber is nothing new. Softwood lumber is what home builders use, and the Canadian market is a big one in the United States. According to University of Idaho forest economics professor Greg Latta, American companies have long felt that Canadians have an advantage because Canadians log on nationally-owned forests – amounting to a government subsidy.

“American companies are arguing that the Canadian government isn’t charging enough for the wood," says Latta, "and that gives Canadian lumber companies kind of an unfair competitive advantage over American companies.”

But Latta says it’s more complicated than that. One reason is that British Columbia flooded the lumber market over the last few years after dealing with a huge die-off of trees infested by bark beetles. Latta says although the 20 percent tariff won’t mean American forests will open to logging – American lumber mills will come out on top through classic supply and demand.

“The demand for lumber isn’t going to change. But the supply of lumber is going to be reduced because of this Canadian tariff. So when the supply is reduced, the price increases. So people are willing to pay more for lumber because there’s less of it around.”

And as that supply shrinks, homebuilders will have to pay more for softwood lumber – transferring those costs to home owners. The economist says there are some examples of companies that both win and lose in this scenario – including one company that logs in north Idaho but also has mills across the border.

Find reporter Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill

Copyright 2017 Boise State Public Radio

Frankie Barnhill was the Senior Producer of Idaho Matters, Boise State Public Radio's daily show and podcast.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.