US home builders are urging the Biden administration to negotiate a new softwood deal with Canada after lumber costs for a single-family house tripled over the past year to nearly US$53,000. …NAHB chairman John Fowke wrote a letter to new U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, saying…“A resolution to the U.S.-Canada softwood lumber dispute would help ease market concerns for builders and consumers alike.” …The NABH has the backing of 35 industry groups in the U.S. that are part of the lumber supply chain, including the National Affordable Housing Management Association. …But the U.S. Lumber Coalition, which represents American producers and private woodland owners wants to preserve the duties. …During a hearing on April 28 by the U.S. Senate committee on appropriations, Ms. Tai left the door open for softwood negotiations with Mary Ng, Canada’s International Trade Minister. …Canadian producers have paid deposits for duties totalling nearly $5-billion since the spring of 2017. [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access may require a subscription]