The United States is New Zealand's third largest market for timber exports. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
There is relief among New Zealand's exporters of wood products who are not yet facing extra import tariffs into the United States.
Imports of timber and lumbar products into the US have dodged tariffs, announced by President Donald Trump this week.
The United States was New Zealand's third largest market for timber exports, after China and Australia.
Mark Ross, chief executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers' Association, said the US construction sector's need for imported timber halted additional imports tariffs in this recent round of announcements.
"It's temporary at the moment, while they're doing this section 232 investigation, which is looking at the effect of imported lumber and timber into the US," Ross said.
"But we've got sustainable plantations and great product for their market that can't be made in America. The customers over there want it and need it."
The investigation under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (1962) was announced on 1 March to delve into the effects of imported timber, lumbar and other products on national security.
There was also a similar investigation on copper, which followed a similar investigation on steel and aluminium.
Submissions on section 232 closed on 1 April.
Ross said construction companies and associations lobbied the government to keep imported timber coming into the US to match demand for construction.
He said thousands of homes had to be rebuilt in South California alone, following the devastating wildfires in January.
"It's a growth market, and there's a shortage of lumber and timber products here for the home construction and the do-it-yourself market, and that's what we feed into.
"Our timber is really well-respected in the US in that it's high quality and appearance grade, so we really want to retain that market."
Ross said the market had grown by 30 percent since 2020 to $356 million, "which is quite substantial."
He said the exemption from tariffs for the interim was a relief to local mills.
New Zealand officials have met with US trade representatives overnight.
A spokesperson for Forestry and Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said the specifics of some product exemptions were still being worked through.
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