Joint Statement by Liz Kovach, President, Supply-Build Canada and Jonathan Paine, President & CEO, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association
Advocacy Bulletin – February 24, 2025
Together, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association and Supply-Build Canada members operate over 7,300 retail stores serving homebuilders, subcontractors and consumers and are driving forces for localized economic activity. Our members are predominantly family-owned and operated businesses who have been deeply rooted within their local communities for generations.
The U.S.-Canadian lumber and building material industry is predicated on a fundamental understanding that our respective economies flourish when we engage in robust and fair trade between our two nations. In the United States, many building supply dealers depend on softwood lumber and gypsum delivered from Canadian counterparts. Similarly, several Canadian companies have expanded U.S. operations supporting local job growth.
Building material dealers are a critical facet of the residential construction sector and play a vital role in addressing the housing affordability crisis, an issue which burdens both of our nations. The increasing price of building materials has exacerbated the cost of new residential construction and has in turn increased the cost of the existing housing supply. In 2024, the National Association of Home Builders estimated that a $1,000 increase in the median price of a new home would price an additional 106,031 households out of the market.[1] Any additional measures which inhibit the continuous flow of goods between our economies would directly harm our joint goal of supporting the construction of affordable housing.
While we are fortunate a temporary agreement is currently in effect pausing the implementation of a 25% across-the-board tariff, it is critical that representatives from both governments work expeditiously to avoid serious disruptions to the building materials supply chain.
For over 100 years, our two associations have been strong advocates within our industries. NLBMDA and Supply-Build Canada have directly influenced policies which expand the economy, grow the workforce, and reduce the barriers historically hindering small business growth. Following this storied tradition, we are committed to working with our respective elected officials to identify solutions which enable our integrated economies to thrive.
Sincerely,
Jonathan M. Paine
President & CEO
National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association
and
Liz Kovach
President
Supply-Build Canada
[1] Zhao, Na. Nearly 77% of U.S. Households Cannot Afford a Median-Priced New Home. Special Study for Housing Economics, March 2024, National Association of Home Builders.