August 24, 2026 • View in browser

NLBMDA Weekly is our newsletter covering everything from the latest activity in Washington to updates from our members. This is the premier source of federal legislative, regulatory, and industry news for NLBMDA members.

50% Tariffs on Canadian Building Products Take Effect

New 50 percent tariffs on nearly $20 billion worth of Canadian imports took effect August 22 after the United States and Canada failed to reach a last-minute trade agreement. The tariffs followed several days of intensive negotiations that appeared to be moving toward an agreement, with both governments reporting substantial progress and the United States delaying implementation for three days to allow talks to continue. Negotiations ultimately broke down late Friday after the two sides were unable to resolve remaining differences, including over steel, aluminum, autos and softwood lumber.  

The new tariffs extend across a broad range of goods, including building materials, alcohol, dairy products and clothing, among others. In the construction sector, covered products include cement, plywood, veneered panels, laminated veneer lumber, particleboard, fiberboard, wood moldings, doors and frames, fencing components and other wood products. USMCA-compliant goods included on the tariff lists remain subject to the additional duty, a departure from the 2025 Canada tariffs, which were amended to exempt goods qualifying for USMCA preference. Canadian softwood lumber and certain other wood products already covered by Section 232 tariffs are excluded, meaning the new 50 percent Section 338 duty does not stack on top of the existing Section 232 tariff.

Canada has announced it will respond with dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports beginning September 8. The Canadian government said the measures will be concentrated in sectors including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics, with a final list of covered products expected before implementation. Canada has also suspended the latest round of negotiations and recalled its negotiating team to Ottawa.



Earlier today, President Trump announced that tariffs on additional Canadian products would increase to 50 percent beginning January 1, including cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel. NLBMDA will continue closely monitoring implementation of the new tariffs, Canada’s retaliatory measures and any renewed efforts to reach a U.S.-Canada trade agreement.

Treasury Finalizes BOI Reporting Relief for U.S. Businesses

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has finalized its revised beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule, permanently exempting U.S.-based companies and U.S. persons from reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. The rule, effective August 14, also directs FinCEN to remove, as much as practicable, previously collected information belonging to U.S. companies and individuals. Businesses do not need to take any action to have their information deleted. FinCEN estimates that roughly 15 million domestic businesses submitted reports before the requirements were narrowed and that the exemptions will reduce annual compliance burdens by approximately 53 million hours and $9 billion. 

The final rule marks a significant development in NLBMDA’s longstanding advocacy for relief from the CTA. NLBMDA joined business groups in urging the Administration to exempt domestic businesses, finalize those protections and delete previously collected information. NLBMDA has also supported H.R. 425, the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act, which would largely codify the current foreign-focused reporting framework and provide greater long-term certainty. The bill advanced from the House Financial Services Committee earlier this year and is awaiting consideration by the full House. Dealers can read NLBMDA’s full communication here for additional details on the final rule, NLBMDA’s advocacy and the remaining legislative outlook. 

Time is Running Out for the ProDealer Early Bird Discount! Deadline September 1!

ProDealer Industry Summit is an exclusive, live educational forum designed to promote the growth of lumber & building product dealers, distributors, wholesalers, and the manufacturers who supply them. LBM dealers will benefit from sharing insights and best practices from industry leaders. Register by September 1st to receive an Early Bird discount! Check out what's in store:

Networking Reception

Join us for a lively networking reception at a local Chicago venue to be revealed soon. Connect with industry peers in a relaxed setting and kick off the event with great conversations.

Speakers & Panels

Experience impactful speakers and dynamic panels that address today’s most relevant industry topics. Walk away with insightful takeaways you can immediately apply to your business.

ProDealer Awards Dinner

Celebrate excellence at the ProDealer Awards Dinner, where we honor this year’s Independent and ProDealer of the Year recipients. Enjoy an evening of recognition, inspiration, and industry camaraderie.

Next-Gen Breakfast

Our Next-Gen Breakfast spotlights the rising leaders who are shaping the future of the industry. Hear their perspectives and discover what we can learn from the next generation’s innovative approach.

Call for Silent Auction Donations at ProDealer 2026

Support NLBMDA by donating to this year’s Silent Auction! Each contribution helps strengthen our advocacy efforts in Washington while giving members the chance to bid on exciting items. Half of this year's Silent Auction donations will go to a charity to support the LBM Community.

Popular donations in past years have included sports memorabilia, electronics, outdoor gear, cigars, jewelry, art, wine and spirits, and more. If you’d like to showcase your support and generosity, simply complete the donation form below and help make this year’s auction a success.

NLBMDA Webinar Series: State of Small Business and a Main Street Outlook 

Join us Wednesday, September 23, at 2:00 pm Eastern for an informative discussion with Tom Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as he provides an update on the state of small business and the outlook for Main Street. 

As a trade association member of the U.S. Chamber, NLBMDA is pleased to offer an opportunity to hear directly from Sullivan as he walks through the latest findings from the U.S. Chamber Small Business Index. Conducted quarterly, the Index tracks how small business owners view the health of their businesses, the economy, and their expectations for hiring, investment, and growth.

He will also provide perspective on the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape and what it means for small businesses across the country. The conversation will also provide NLBMDA members with the U.S. Chamber’s perspective on the broader outlook for small businesses.

NLBMDA Members Invited to Webinar on Work Opportunity Tax Credit

As a member of the Critical Labor Coalition, NLBMDA is pleased to offer members access to an upcoming webinar examining the future of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and efforts in Congress to reinstate the tax incentive.

Join the Critical Labor Coalition and Capitol Solutions on Wednesday, September 9, from 11:00–11:45 a.m. ET for an employer-focused discussion on WOTC, the challenges facing its renewal and opportunities for employers to support congressional action. The conversation will feature Noelle Britton, Chief of Staff to Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), sponsor of the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act, and Evan Migdail, partner at DLA Piper and consultant to the National Employment Opportunity Network. Critical Labor Coalition Executive Director Misty Chally will moderate.

Housing Affordability Worsens on Higher Mortgage Rates

After three straight quarters of modest gains, housing affordability worsened in the second quarter of 2026 as higher mortgage rates, rising home prices, construction cost pressures and broader economic uncertainty weighed on buyers. According to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI), a family earning the national median income of $106,800 now must spend 34% of its income to afford a median-priced new home, up from 32% in the first quarter. For lower-income households earning half the median income, the burden climbed to 67% of earnings, highlighting the ongoing affordability challenges facing many Americans.

Affordability pressures were even greater in the existing-home market, where a typical family needed 36% of its income to purchase a median-priced home, while a low-income family would have to devote 71% of its earnings to housing costs. NAHB officials attributed the decline to elevated mortgage rates, rising construction costs, labor shortages, regulatory hurdles and a persistent nationwide housing shortage estimated at 1.2 million units. Existing-home affordability deteriorated sharply as median prices rose 8% quarter over quarter, while the average 30-year mortgage rate increased from 6.20% to 6.51%. The data underscore the continued need for policies that boost housing supply and reduce barriers to home construction as affordability remains out of reach for many households.

NAR Pending Home Sales Report Shows 2.3% Decrease in July

Pending home sales in July decreased by 2.3% month-over-month and 2.2% year-over-year, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Pending Home Sales report. The report provides the real estate ecosystem—including agents, homebuyers and sellers—with data on the level of home sales under contract. Pending home sales in July fell to the lowest level since January 2026. Month-over-month pending home sales declined in all four major U.S. regions. Year-over-year pending home sales increased in the Midwest but declined in the Northeast, South and West.

“The highest mortgage rates of the year hit right in the middle of summer, and that’s pulling back contract signings,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “Home prices are at record highs so houses for sale are sitting on the market longer, and fewer buyers are bidding above the asking price than a year ago, though there are large local market variations.”

“Job gains should bring more buyers into the market, especially if mortgage rates stabilize or decline, though that impact takes time to show up,” Yun said. “Right now, pending contracts are 30% below their pre-pandemic 2019 level, while payroll employment is 5% above. That gap points to sizable pent-up demand that should be unleashed in the coming years as more supply reaches the market and affordability improves.”

ROAD to Housing Implementation Begins to Move to Federal Agencies

With the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act now law, attention is increasingly shifting from Congress to the federal agencies responsible for implementing its more than 50 provisions. An August 12 update from the Federal Housing Administration offered an early indication of that process. FHA updated its Single-Family Housing Policy Handbook but specifically noted that the update does not yet incorporate ROAD to Housing provisions, which the agency said remain “under evaluation.” 

As discussed during NLBMDA’s recent webinar on ROAD implementation, the law will not take effect all at once. Numerous provisions require federal agencies to issue regulations or guidance, conduct studies, establish new programs or meet specific implementation deadlines. Other provisions will depend on future congressional appropriations before their full impact can be realized. 

For the LBM industry, the implementation phase will ultimately determine how quickly ROAD’s housing supply, financing and regulatory reforms begin to have an effect. NLBMDA will remain engaged with federal agencies and Congress throughout the process and will continue updating members as major regulations, guidance and implementation deadlines move forward. 

 White House Backs NLBMDA-Supported Fix Our Forests Act

Earlier this month the White House formally endorsed the NLBMDA-supported Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462), adding new momentum to a longstanding association priority awaiting action in the Senate. In an August 10 Statement of Administration Policy, the White House said the legislation would encourage active forest management and wildfire resilience by expediting environmental reviews, reducing litigation and improving coordination among federal, state, tribal and local governments. The administration said that, if the bill reaches the White House with amendments, his advisors recommend that the President sign it into law. 

The bipartisan legislation would streamline federal forest restoration projects, expand wildfire risk reduction efforts and improve post-fire recovery. The administration endorsed many of those provisions while recommending additional changes related to the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service, management of rangelands and wildfire technology. 

FOFA has been a NLBMDA advocacy priority since 2025. During NLBMDA’s 2025 Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference, more than 50 LBM dealers urged senators and congressional staff to advance the legislation. The Senate Agriculture Committee later approved S. 1462 on a bipartisan basis, placing it on the Senate calendar for consideration. The House passed the legislation in 2025. NLBMDA continues to support passage as part of its broader effort to promote healthy forests, reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and strengthen the long-term stability of domestic timber resources. 

New Bipartisan House Bill Would Examine Broader Costs of Housing Shortage

Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Scott Peters (D-CA) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a federal task force to examine how the nation’s shortage of affordable housing affects the economy, government programs and household outcomes. The Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act of 2026, which was introduced on August 13th, would create an 18-member bipartisan panel of researchers and policy experts appointed by congressional leaders. 



The task force would examine the relationship between housing affordability and areas including employment, income, education, transportation access, regional economic growth and neighborhood and rural community stability. It would also quantify costs imposed on federal, state and local programs by a lack of affordable housing and provide Congress with policy recommendations. The legislation requires a 90-day public comment period and a final report to several congressional committees.

The proposal comes just weeks after enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and reflects continued bipartisan congressional attention to housing affordability. While the bill does not itself authorize new housing production, its sponsors argue that a broader accounting of the economic effects of housing shortages could help inform future federal housing policy. NLBMDA plans to engage with the bill’s lead sponsors to learn more about the legislation and its potential implications for the LBM industry. 

WBMA 2026 Link Scholarship Recipients

The WBMA Educational Link Scholarship Fund was established by the members of Western Building Material Association for the purpose of assisting in providing higher education opportunities for children of members’ employees, and the employees themselves. 

The Link Scholarship Fund is in its 35th year and has awarded $335,750 in scholarships to date. This year, five $4,000 scholarships were distributed to the recipients below.

Maggie Gosvener – Mason, WA – will attend Eastern Washington University

Courtney Manning – Olympia, WA – will attend Boise State University

Paige Otero – Meridian, ID – will attend Idaho State University

Henry Petersen – Olympia, WA – will attend Montana States University

Kassidy Van Soest – Everson, WA – will attend Yakima Valley College

McCoy's breaks ground on new Texas store

McCoy's Building Supply recently broke ground and began construction on a retail location near Canyon Lake, Texas, between San Antonio and Austin. Located in the Mystic Shores community, directly across Highway 306 from Rebecca Creek Elementary School, the store will be McCoy's 86th location.

"I am excited for McCoy's to become part of the Canyon Lake/Spring Branch community serving the families, contractors, and businesses that make this area so special," said Corey Elmore, Regional Manager for McCoy's San Antonio-area locations. "As Canyon Lake continues to grow, we're proud to expand alongside it, and we're looking forward to helping our customers with projects of every size for years to come."

Hometown expansion for Bliffert Lumber

Bliffert Lumber and East Side Lumber completed a merger effective Aug. 1, 2026, bringing together two well-respected, independent Wisconsin lumber companies.

East Side Lumber has been employee-owned for more than 18 years and has built a strong reputation for its expertise, customer service and commitment to the building industry. That employee-first culture aligns with Bliffert, which has expanded employee ownership through its partial ESOP.

SalesJack, Bradley Hartmann & Co. join forces

SalesJack and Bradley Hartmann & Co. have announced a collaboration that makes SalesJack the analytics engine behind Bradley Hartmann & Co.’s Sales Performance Analytics group (SPA). SalesJack will automate the data extraction and transformation process and provide new, modern dashboards for SPA members.

“The LBM industry is strong when it comes to looking in the rearview mirror—discussing revenue and gross profit,” said Bradley Hartmann. “But when it comes to pipeline management, forecasting, growing wallet share, taking market share and ensuring the sales compensation plan aligns with the organization’s goals, many LBM firms admit they have room for improvement. That’s where analytics comes in, and SalesJack delivers those insights faster and with greater depth.”

Weyerhauser supports McComb internship program preparing students for manufacturing careers

This summer, seven high school students from southwest Mississippi spent four weeks inside our McComb lumber mill in Magnolia, Mississippi, earning industry certifications, exploring every department and discovering career possibilities they hadn’t considered before.

The opportunity came through a partnership between Weyerhaeuser and Southwest Mississippi Community College. Students first completed a Basics in Manufacturing certification program during the school year, then applied what they learned through the summer internship, building workplace skills that will serve them wherever their careers lead.

Students attended classes two evenings a week throughout the spring, earning OSHA 10 certification while learning precision measurement, lockout/tagout procedures, forklift operation and other manufacturing fundamentals. The internship brought those lessons to life through department tours, job shadowing and hands-on activities focused on communication, teamwork and safety.