The U.S. South Region manufactured almost 22.1 billion board feet of softwood lumber. There were 388 importers of softwood lumber from European countries between 2022 and 2024. The unit of measurement used for most imported softwood lumber is cubic meters, with a small amount imported in square meters.

Assessments from importers are collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when the lumber enters the country. The previous assessment rate on softwood lumber was $0.41 per thousand board feet for both domestically manufactured and imported softwood lumber. The rule is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The rule will become effective 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

Why It Matters

The rule addresses a structural discrepancy in how assessments are calculated for lumber entering from different regions. By shifting the basis to nominal volume, the regulation aims to equalize the financial contributions of importers from European countries with those from North America. The addition of a seat for the U.S. South Region reflects the area's substantial production volume, which reached nearly 22.1 billion board feet.

The financial impact of the clarification extends beyond individual importer payments, adding more than $367,000 to the board's operational budget. This increase supports the board's capacity to manage promotion and research activities under the authority of the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The expansion of the board from 15 to 16 total members ensures representation aligns with current production realities.

Timeline

In January 2023, Forest Economic Advisors released a study quantifying the impact of net size versus nominal size measurements on assessments. The Softwood Lumber Board unanimously recommended the changes at a public meeting on March 12, 2025. On September 21, 2026, the rule adds one industry seat on the Softwood Lumber Board for the U.S. South Region. Also on September 21, 2026, the rule raises the assessment rate on net-count softwood lumber imports to $0.62 per thousand board feet.

What's New

In March 2025, the Softwood Lumber Board voted to recommend rulemaking to clarify the assessment rate in the Order after attempts to solve the issue without rulemaking through a CSMS bulletin failed. The Agricultural Marketing Service is a United States federal agency division that supports the fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products. European is an agency of the European Union.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding softwood lumber. The Agricultural Marketing Service Final Rule 2026-19389 states that the assessment rate on softwood lumber is $0.41 per thousand board feet for both domestically manufactured and imported softwood lumber.

Sources differ on details regarding the softwood lumber board. The Agricultural Marketing Service Final Rule 2026-19389 states that clarifying that the assessment rate is based on nominal volume will add more than $367,000 to the Softwood Lumber Board budget.

The Agricultural Marketing Service Final Rule 2026-19389 states that the rule raises the assessment rate on net-count softwood lumber imports to $0.62 per thousand board feet.