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Boise Cascade recently pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Lacey Act for its role in a timber trafficking scheme to evade countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Chinese hardwood plywood. The company was fined $6.3 million.

According to the Department of Justice, "Boise Cascade knew that Horizon had previously tried to hide the origin of the wood that it imported. For example, Horizon transshipped products from China to Malaysia, where it moved product into new containers, and then from Malaysia to the United States. Boise Cascade knew or should have known the plywood purchased from Horizon was sourced from China."

"Boise Cascade was also aware the United States executed a search warrant at Horizon's warehouse in South Florida in January 2021, and despite knowing that Horizon was under federal investigation, Boise Cascade still placed at least 10 new orders for birch plywood in the two weeks following the search warrant and received the orders."

The brazen facts of this case point to a need for increased enforcement of the Lacey Act and U.S. trade law. Purchasers of hardwood plywood should buy products made in the U.S. that have been legally harvested and are sustainable.

We'll talk about trade policy, enforcement, and much more at the DHA 2026 Annual Meeting in Asheville, NC, next week. I look forward to seeing many of you there!

If you have questions or comments, contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Keith A. Christman, President