[snopercod]

20% tariffs imposed on these lumber products from Canada

Thanks for reminding me. There are a couple of older threads on this that need to be revisited:

U.S. Tariff Put on Lumber From Canada Saturday, August 11, 2001.

U.S. Puts Tariff on Canadian Lumber Amid Allegations of Unfair Subsidies, March 22, 2002.

[DugwayDuke]

It's not just the amount of the tariffs, but their indirect effects. I understand that in the last couple of years, these tariffs have increased material prices to the point where over a hundred mills closed down. Now, with the war in Iraq and overseas demand, the closure of these mills have resulted in a classic supply and demand squeeze. It's a classic case of the fallicy that tariffs will result in prosperity for all. Also, it's just like the effects of the steel tariffs that also resulted in higher prices and the loss of jobs thru plant closures.