Forget tariffs — the U.S. lumber deficit will take decades to close

The United States continues to face a structural shortfall in softwood lumber that is expected to persist for many years, regardless of tariffs or government measures aimed at boosting forest production. Even if the country were to completely halt exports, estimates suggest that a 7 percent gap between domestic supply and demand would remain. The U.S. accounts for roughly 27 percent of global softwood demand, but domestic production meets only about 20 percent of global supply. Imports have historically been relied upon to fill this gap. Over the past fifty years, foreign shipments have supplied between one-quarter ...