DATEBOOK

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued its preliminary determination in the second administrative review of softwood lumber imports from Canada, proposing that tariff rates be more than doubled for most fi rms (categorized as “all others”).

The Commerce Department advised that the current 8.99% combined anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty rate be increased to 18.32% by the end of the year. Previously, the rate had been set at 20% in 2018, before being lowered to its current level late last year.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition applauded the announcement. “A level playing fi eld is a critical element for continued investment and growth for U.S. lumber manufacturing to meet strong building demand to build more American homes,” said Jason Brochu, Coalition co-chair and co-president of Pleasant River Lumber Co. “The U.S. Lumber Coalition applauds the Commerce Department’s continued commitment to strongly enforce the U.S. trade laws against subsidized and unfairly traded Canadian lumber imports.”

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and the National Association of Home Builders, however, criticized the plan.

NLBMDA president Jonathan Paine called the duty “a tax on American consumers” that will further aggravate the shortage of aff ordable housing. Paine vowed NLBMDA would lobby “to reverse this decision by the Department of Commerce and will continue to fi ght for the renewal of a Softwood Lumber Agreement with Canada.”

Royal Building Products Parent Westlake Buying Boral NA

Australia’s Boral Ltd. has agreed to sell its North American building products business to Westlake Chemical Corp. for $2.15 billion in cash.

Expected to close before the end of the year, the deal includes Boral’s roofi ng, siding/trim, decorative stone, and windows products businesses and nearly doubles the size of Westlake’s building products business.

“This transaction will bring well-established and high-quality architectural solutions and premium product brands to complement our existing businesses, including Royal Building Products’ siding, trim and molding, DaVinci composite roofi ng, NAPCO Pipe and Fittings, and specialty PVC compounding business,” said Westlake president and CEO Albert Chao.

MI Windows & Doors Expanding

MI Windows & Doors, manufacturer of vinyl, aluminum and fi berglass windows and doors, recently broke ground on a 90,000-sq. ft. addition to its factory in Gratz, Pa.

Set to be completed early next year, the $27-million expansion will bring two additional vinyl window production lines, a new automated glass room, and a training center.

Water-Based Paints Dominate

World demand for architectural paint is forecast to rise 2.5% per year through 2024 to 33.8 million metric tons, according to a new Freedonia Group study.

Water-based paints increasingly dominate the global architectural paint market, representing 77% of total demand in 2019. Water-based paints account for the majority of demand in developed regions due to strict VOC regulations, technological advances, and large DIY markets that prefer water-based paints’ low odor and ease of use.

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Coverings – July 7-9, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando,

Fl.; www.coverings.com. National Wood Flooring Expo – July 7-9, Orange County Convention

Center, Orlando, Fl.; www.nwfaexpo.org. Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Assn. – July 8-11, annual convention & show, Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Ms.; www.mlmalumber.com. Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association – July 11-14, annual conference, JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco

Island, Fl.; www.slma.org.

Rhode Island Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association

–July 14, golf outing & clambake, Green Valley Country Club &

Kempenaar’s Clambake Club, Portsmouth, R.I.; www.nrla.org. New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association – July 15, golf outing,

Lake Sunapee Country Club, New London, N.H.; www.nrla.org. Southeast Building Conference – July 15-16, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee, Fl.; www.sebcshow.com. Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Association – July 19, golf outing,

Powelton Country Club, Newburgh, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Construction Suppliers Association – July 20-21, basic estimating/ blueprint take-off; July 22, advanced estimating, Hilton Garden

Inn, Flowood, Ms.; www.gocsa.com. Northwestern Lumber Association – July 20-22, heritage roundtable, Alexandria, Mn.; www.nlassn.org. Atlanta Build Expo – July 21-22, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, Ga.; www.buildexpousa.com. Building Material Suppliers Association – July 22-25, summer conference, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; mybmsa.org. Long Island Lumber Association – July 23, baseball outing, Citi

Field, New York, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Association – July 26, golf outing, Pinehaven Country Club, Guilderland, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. American Wood Protection Association – July 27-29, 117th annual meeting–online and in-person, Nashville, Tn.; www.awpa.com. Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Assn. – Aug. 2, eastern golf outing, Pinehills Golf Club, Plymouth, Ma.; www.nrla.org. Michigan Assn. of Timbermen – Aug. 5-6, annual meeting, Bavarian

Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth, Mi.; www.michigantimbermen.com. Central New York Retail Lumber Dealers Association – Aug. 7, Day at the Races, Oswego Speedway, Oswego, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. The Inspired Home Show – Aug. 7-10, McCormick Place, Chicago,

Il.; www.housewares.org. New Jersey Building Material Association – Aug. 9, annual meeting, Neshanic Valley, N.J.; www.nrla.org. Austin Build Expo – Aug. 11-12, Palmer Events Center, Austin, Tx.; www.buildexpousa.com. Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo – Aug. 11-13, presented by Southern Forest Products Association, Georgia

World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.; www.sfpaexpo.com. Wallace Hardware – Aug. 11-13, dealer market, LeConte Center,

Pigeon Forge, Tn.; www.wallacehardware.com. JLC Live Show – Aug. 12-14, Rhode Island Convention Center,

Providence, R.I.; www.jlclive.com. Central New York Retail Lumber Dealers Association – Aug. 19, 17th annual clambake, The Spinning Wheel, North Syracuse, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Southwest Forest Products Expo – Aug. 23-24, Hot Springs, Ar.; www.arkloggers.com.