About Us
Our Mission
American
Consumers for Affordable Homes (ACAH) is a broad-based ad-hoc alliance of
organizations interested in promoting affordable housing for consumers in the
United States.
Its mission is to support policies that will open the softwood lumber
market between the U.S. and Canada.
Background
U.S.
and Canadian citizens are fortunate to benefit from one of the most positive
trading relationships in the world under the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). However, there is a major
commodity, softwood lumber, that is excluded from the free trade benefits of
NAFTA -- and subject to trade quotas. In
May of l996, under the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), limitations were placed
on the amount of lumber permitted to enter the United States from Canada.
These trade restrictions have also
directly impacted the price of lumber for new construction and remodeling in
the United States.
The
price of lumber fluctuates due to many factors which cause market volatility --
with future volatility still unknown. There
are two independent estimates which state that the SLA adds approximately $1000
onto the price of a new home. (This expense encompasses not only lumber costs,
but other fees such as sales taxes, permit fees, real estate commissions, and
financing and insurance fees related to lumber purchases). Click
here for impact information.
By
changing tariff classifications (see history page) of several key remanufactured wood products used
to construct housing, the U.S. Government also has unilaterally expanded the
scope of the Softwood Lumber Agreement. These
actions undermine the integrity of international agreements that U.S. exporters
depend upon, and hurt U.S. consumers.
Solution
As
a consequence of these limits imposed on lumber exports from Canada, we believe
it is time to take a fresh look at the entire issue.
The expiration of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement in 2001
offers such a long-term opportunity.
We
are proposing that an open market be adopted between the U.S. and Canada, which
would allow a free flow of lumber products based on market-driven economics.
Under an open market scenario, lumber supplies would compete freely in
both countries and eliminate current volatility.
As a result, U.S. consumers would benefit from a greater variety of more
affordable wood products in
building homes, and in other wood construction applications.
Members - To view a list of our
members, click the ACAH logo on any page or click here.
Contact Information
| 
Thomas Pendleton Communications