Two new U.S. tariff actions both exempt wood products; however, neither removes the Section 232 tariffs already in place on timber and lumber, which continue to apply.
On July 20, President Trump signed three proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 imposing an additional 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods, covering products that range from wine to cement. The tariffs take effect 30 days after signing and do not apply to energy, potash, fish, critical minerals or goods already subject to Section 232 tariffs, such as timber and lumber. The exemption does not lower the tariffs importers already pay—it only prevents the new duties from being stacked on top of existing ones.
Additionally, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Brazil, effective July 22, following a Section 301 investigation into Brazilian trade practices including illegal deforestation. USTR expanded its exemption list to include softwood plywood and engineered hardwood flooring after outcry over limited domestic availability. Wood products already covered by Section 232 tariffs are excluded from the new duties.
