Oregon's Southport Lumber urges US Dept. of Commerce not to restrict Canadian timber imports in Section 232 investigation, arguing Pacific Northwest producers depend on Canadian logs on limited domestic supply, high transport costs

May 7, 2025 (Targeted News Service) –

TARGETED NEWS SERVICE (founded 2004) features non-partisan 'edited journalism' news briefs and information for news organizations, public policy groups and individuals; as well as 'gathered' public policy information, including news releases, reports, speeches. For more information contact MYRON STRUCK , editor, editor@targetednews.com, Springfield, Virginia ; 703/304-1897; https://targetednews.com

WASHINGTON , May 7 -- Southport Lumber Company , an Oregon -based U.S. lumber producer, has formally submitted comments to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at the Department of Commerce , urging the agency to differentiate between timber and lumber in its ongoing national security investigation into imports. In a strongly worded letter, Southport argues against any measures that would restrict the importation of Canadian timber (raw logs), asserting that such actions would harm domestic lumber manufacturing, jeopardize American jobs, and ultimately undermine national security.

The comments come in response to the Department of Commerce's investigation initiated under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which is examining the potential national security implications of timber and lumber imports. Southport's letter, dated recently and filed under Docket No. BIS-2025-0011, emphasizes the critical distinction between the need to address unfair trade practices related to Canadian lumber and the necessity for U.S. companies to have access to Canadian timber.

Jason Smith , President of Southport Lumber, stated directly in the letter, "Any measure that would constrain available timber would undermine domestic lumber production, and the jobs associated with that domestic manufacturing." He further elaborated on the regional challenges faced by producers like Southport in the Pacific Northwest , explaining that "Because environmental and other constraints limit the supply of timber in the Pacific Northwest , lumber producers like Southport in Oregon must supplement their feedstock of U.S. logs with Canadian logs."

The company's submission includes expert economic analysis from Dr. Austin Lamica , a forest economist, supporting their claims about the constrained domestic timber supply in regions like the Pacific Northwest . According to the letter, prohibitive transportation costs prevent producers in the PNW from sourcing timber from other U.S. regions, such as the South.

Southport acknowledges the importance of a strong domestic lumber industry, echoing President Trump's recent Executive Order on the matter. The company also reiterates its support, as part of the U.S. Lumber Coalition , for addressing unfair trade practices concerning Canadian lumber imports. However, they argue vehemently against extending any restrictive measures to Canadian timber.

"Any measure that would reduce access to Canadian logs would therefore reduce U.S. lumber output and harm U.S. producers like Southport," the letter contends. Smith warns that making it more difficult or expensive to import Canadian logs would "weaken the domestic lumber industry and make the manufacturing base less capable of meeting both military-specific and wider civilian needs." He concludes that additional measures on timber, such as tariffs or quotas, are not "necessary to protect national security; indeed, they would undermine national security."

Furthermore, Southport cautions that reduced timber supply could lead to increased lumber prices, adding pressure to the already struggling U.S. housing sector. The company urges the Secretary of Commerce to "refrain from recommending any measures that would inhibit the importation of timber from Canada , and similarly refrain from making any findings that would support such measures."

In its analysis, Southport suggests that while U.S. lumber producers could potentially increase output under the right conditions, the timber market operates under fundamentally different dynamics. Domestic timber supply in key regions like the Pacific Northwest is constrained by environmental regulations, the aftermath of natural disasters like the 2020 Oregon wildfires, and the regional nature of timber availability due to transportation costs and species differences.

The letter highlights the critical role Canadian timber, particularly from British Columbia , plays in supplementing the limited domestic supply in the PNW. Smith notes that increased timber imports from Canada in the 1990s coincided with a decline in mill closures in the region. Restricting this supply, Southport argues, would intensify competition for scarce domestic timber, potentially forcing mills to reduce output, lay off workers, or even shut down entirely, with significant economic consequences for local communities.

Ultimately, Southport Lumber's message to the federal agency is clear: while standing firm against unfair lumber trade is essential, maintaining access to Canadian timber is equally vital for the health and security of the U.S. domestic lumber industry.

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Read full text of the public communication here: https://downloads.regulations.gov/BIS-2025-0011-0103/attachment_1.pdf

View Regulations.gov posting on April 10, 2025 , and docket information here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment/BIS-2025-0011-0103

TARGETED NEWS SERVICE (founded 2004) features non-partisan 'edited journalism' news briefs and information for news organizations, public policy groups and individuals; as well as 'gathered' public policy information, including news releases, reports, speeches. For more information contact MYRON STRUCK , editor, editor@targetednews.com, Springfield, Virginia ; 703/304-1897; https://targetednews.com