USDA adds net size basis to softwood lumber assessment, effective October 22, 2026
CBP title: Softwood Lumber Assessment Rates Clarification
What did CBP announce?
CBP shared a clarification of the softwood lumber assessment that the Softwood Lumber Board administers. The assessment rate is $0.41 per thousand board feet (MBF) for domestic and imported softwood lumber, measured on a nominal basis. USDA amended the Order to add a definition of net size or count and a matching assessment calculation. The clarified assessment rates for nominal and net volume are effective October 22, 2026.
What is Allied's position?
This change affects clients who import softwood lumber. The assessment can now be calculated on nominal or net volume, so the volume basis on your documents matters. Please tell us whether your invoices show nominal or net sizes, so we can apply the correct calculation. Send questions about the assessment itself to info@softwoodlumberboard.org.
General information, not legal advice.
What does the CBP message say?
The Softwood Lumber Board (Board) administers a nationally coordinated program pursuant to the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education, and Industry Information Order (Order) (7 CFR Part 1217 (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecfr.gov%2Fcurrent%2Ftitle-7%2Fsubtitle-B%2Fchapter-XI%2Fpart-1217&data=05%7C02%7CBRIAN.C.DUTOI%40cbp.dhs.gov%7Cfa43329edec84fe2908408df3c1c8354%7Ce4b16b844c564f279af730345a161ad4%7C0%7C0%7C639295765327069346%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yEpnbbs3jL0gpMJ%2FlEuXFgWjbxGN7WM8KfUnN51hLdk%3D&reserved=0)).
The assessment rate specified in the Order on softwood lumber is $0.41 per thousand board feet (MBF) for both domestically manufactured and imported softwood lumber. The Order defines a board foot as the unit of measurement of softwood lumber represented by a board 12-inches long, 12-inches wide, and 1-inch thick, or its cubic equivalent, on a nominal basis. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) amended the Order to add a definition of net size or count and to provide a corresponding assessment calculation. Below is a table from the update showing the assessment rate for both nominal and net volume. The clarified assessment rates are effective October 22, 2026. For any questions on this assessment, please contact: info@softwoodlumberboard.org (mailto:info@softwoodlumberboard.org).
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