Guide · US · Framing lumber
The US Department of Commerce has lowered the duties on most Canadian softwood lumber. That eases one input cost a little; it doesn’t mean lumber is getting cheap. Here is what changed and how to handle framing lumber in your budget.
Last updated 2 November 2026. Rates from the Federal Register and NAHB. Not legal or trade advice.
Following its annual review, Commerce lowered the combined antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) duty on Canadian softwood lumber from about 35.16% to 24.75%. It issued the final rates on October 13, 2026, and they took effect on publication in the Federal Register on October 19, 2026.
Sources: NAHB — Canadian lumber antidumping and countervailing duties; Federal Register — AD final results (19 Oct 2026); Federal Register — CVD final results (19 Oct 2026)
24.75% is the “all others” rate: 10.64% antidumping plus 14.11% countervailing. The reviewed mills have their own combined rates: Canfor 31.11%, Resolute 25.55% and West Fraser 20.02%.
Source: Global Affairs Canada — softwood lumber recent developments (rates table)
A separate 10% tariff on timber and softwood lumber, imposed after a Section 232 national security investigation, is unchanged. So the total on most Canadian lumber is 34.75%.
Source: NAHB — Canadian lumber antidumping and countervailing duties
Duties apply to the customs value of the imported lumber, not to your quote. Per $100 of customs value at the all-others rate, duty plus the 10% Section 232 tariff falls from $45.16 to $34.75. The landed cost before freight and margins goes from $145.16 to $134.75, about 7.2% lower. Your lumber package will move by much less, or not at all: mill prices, freight, dealer margin and domestic supply all matter more week to week.
November CME lumber futures settled at $507.50 per 1,000 board feet on 27 October 2026, their lowest settlement of the year. On 28 October West Fraser said it will indefinitely curtail its Huguley OSB mill in Lanett, Alabama and its lumber mill in Leola, Arkansas in the fourth quarter, citing weak demand. That removes 500 million square feet of OSB (3/8-inch basis) and 225 million board feet of southern yellow pine from its annual capacity.
So framing lumber futures are at their cheapest of the year, while curtailments like these take OSB and southern yellow pine capacity out of the market. We don't forecast prices. The practical step is to check the validity date on every lumber and sheathing quote, ask whether the supplier will offer a price-lock clause or a fixed price for an agreed delivery window. Record the validity date on the quote in ConstructionPro.io and note any price-lock terms, so you can see when it lapses.
Sources: West Fraser — Q3 2026 results and indefinite curtailments (28 Oct 2026); Wood Central — lumber futures hit 2026 low at US$507.50 (29 Oct 2026)
Keep framing lumber as its own allowance line rather than burying it in the framing sub’s lump sum. Check how long each lumber quote is valid for, and price it again close to delivery. If your contract has an escalation clause, read what it measures and how both up and down moves are handled. Don’t cut contingency on the strength of a duty change alone.
Track lumber as cost lines and compare quotes in ConstructionPro.io. The app doesn’t track tariffs or lumber prices.
For most exporters, a combined antidumping and countervailing rate of 24.75%, down from about 35.16%, effective October 19, 2026. Canfor, Resolute and West Fraser have their own rates.
Yes. The separate 10% Section 232 tariff on timber and softwood lumber remains, so the total for most Canadian lumber is 34.75%.
Not necessarily. The duty cut eases one input cost slightly, but lumber prices also depend on mills, freight, dealer margins and demand.
Carry it as its own allowance line, check quote validity dates, price it again close to delivery, and read any escalation clause before you sign.
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