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Canadian plywood manufacturers have filed a new trade complaint, challenging dumping and subsidies on hardwood from China. Their previous case had disappointing results, due to relatively weak Canadian policy that has benefited Chinese manufacturers. This has allowed dumped and subsidized plywood products access to the North American market. Hopefully, this case will have a better outcome.

DHA continuously promotes decorative hardwoods and has collaborated with partners to develop compelling research to support powerful marketing claims. Our recent article in Surface & Panel Magazine outlines how decorative hardwoods are both sustainable and a deforestation-free choice. Our colleagues at the American Hardwood Export Council developed the American Hardwood Assured program that demonstrates that U.S. hardwoods are essentially deforestation-free, ironically inspired by the EU Deforestation Regulation.
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After years of rising hardwood plywood imports, this year started on a good note: January 2026 imports declined vs. last January. Imports from Vietnam declined the most. We are hopeful that the recent preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties and the Trump administration trade policies are limiting these dumped and subsidized imports.

The Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood recently commended the U.S. Department of Commerce for its decision to impose preliminary antidumping duties to remedy the unfair trade practices of China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Tariffs took center stage again on February 20 when the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out President Trump's IEEPA tariffs. It’s not clear how much impact the ruling will have, as the Trump administration immediately announced temporary new 15% tariffs, and previously negotiated agreements remain in place. Long-term measures, including the hardwood plywood trade antidumping and countervailing duty cases, are also unaffected.