Hardwood and lumber companies across the U.S are asking for federal support because of the effect of tariffs on their businesses. The Hardwood Federation sent out a letter to the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Treasury and the United States Trade Representative. This was sent on Oct. 14, the same day the tariffs took into effect. In the letter the Hardwood Federation cited issues in hardwood exports including how fom 2022-2024, hardwood exports product exports decreased $930 million and hardwood lumber exports fell 20% or $663 million. They also included the hardwood industry lost 40,000 jobs (down 10%) in the course of two years. In the letter they asked for potential help from the federal government, “Should tariff relief programs become necessary, we urge the administration to include the U.S. hardwood sector, to safeguard rural jobs, secure a sustainable domestic supply chain and preserve a proud American industry for generations to come.” This letter was signed by over 500 hardwood and lumber companies.
Brandon Clark, the owner of Clark Lumber Company in Red Boiling Springs and Erin and Clark Hardwoods in Lafayette, Tenn. spoke about the impact of the market disruption on his business personally.“We ship lumber with a 45 to 60 day transit time, and if those tariffs are enacted in the middle of that transit, then who is responsible for paying for the tariffs?” said Clark. “It has made it very difficult to be profitable during this time, and that’s the struggle that everyone in our industry is fighting right now.”
He noted his largest customer base was in China who eight years ago accounted for up to 40% of his business. Now, the country’s consumption has dwindled down to 7%. However Clark’s confidence in the industry has not diminished. He hopes for the help of the federal government.
“We hope that the elected officials have more information than we do and that they are doing what is best for the country,” said Clark. “We want to have that confidence, and while that may be the case for the country as a whole, our industry is at risk of being a casualty.”
