The investigations signal that tariffs on wood product imports could be on the horizon, as President Trump launched similar probes into steel and aluminum before announcing tariffs would be imposed on March 12. A report is due within 270 days of the order. Tariffs on lumber, timber, and derivative products would have a particularly significant impact on softwood lumber imports from Canada.

The U.S. and Canada have a long-standing dispute over softwood lumber imports, primarily due to allegations of unfair subsidies in Canada’s lumber industry. Canadian softwood imports are already subject to 6.74% in countervailing duties in addition to anti-dumping duties, which the Department of Commence proposed to raise from 7.66% to 20.07% on March 3, bringing the total of potential levies to nearly 27%. A potential tariff on lumber, timber, and derivative products would also stack on top of the paused 25% tariffs on imports from Canada, which are set to resume April 2.