The White House on Saturday ordered a Commerce Department probe of the wood, lumber, and timber imports, which it described as a threat to national security.

"The United States faces significant vulnerabilities in the wood supply chain from imported timber, lumber, and their derivative products being dumped onto the US market," the White House said

The White House said the US has "ample timber resources" to cover 95% of its consumption yet has been an importer of wood since 2016.

The White House alleged that "unfair subsidies and foreign government support for foreign timber, lumber, and their derivative products necessitate action" to determine whether such imports threaten national security.