DHA eNews - Trump Eliminates Tariffs On Some Canadian Plywood
While the U.S. government has turned its attention toward the midterm elections, actions are still being taken that benefit our industry. President Trump changed some of the tariffs on Canadian goods, eliminating tariffs on veneer core plywood.
Congress has introduced new bipartisan legislation to help spur demand for U.S. wood products. Whatever happens in the midterm elections, we are optimistic that more legislators will join in to support the forest products industry, which plays a vital role in the U.S. economy and improves the health and sustainability of U.S. forests.
If you have questions or comments, contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Keith A. Christman, President
PHOTO © DANIEL TOROK, THE WHITE HOUSE
On October 23, President Trump announced changes to Section 338 tariffs on Canada, removing many non-tropical veneer core hardwood plywood categories and adding a type of multilayer wood flooring, among other changes. Click on the link below to see the full list of changes.
On October 22, legislators introduced the bipartisan Strong American Wood (SAW) Act. The bill is designed to enhance demand for U.S.-grown wood and support U.S. wood products. Key provisions include increasing federal purchases of U.S. wood and wood products and designating wood products as critical to national security.
On October 22, President Trump signed an executive order designed to lower the cost of single-family homes and mortgages. At the same time, the Treasury Department released new institutional investor rules. The executive order includes a pilot program to end mortgage insurance premiums for some borrowers and directs the Agriculture and Veterans Affairs secretaries to reduce interest rates on single-family home loans issued by their departments.
On October 13, Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) CEO Betsy Natz delivered a letter to U.S. House leaders asking them to continue the bipartisan House Select Committee on China. The letter, signed by members of the Alliance for Trade EnforcementNOW, highlights the committee's work to expose illegal trade practices, improve enforcement of U.S. trade laws, and create laws that combat trade crime.
On October 22, EPA issued a final rule updating six standards for testing hardwood plywood, MDF, and particleboard for compliance with U.S. formaldehyde regulations, which will take effect 30 days after publication. The rule now allows an optional small-chamber testing method, giving manufacturers more flexibility. The agency expects no additional compliance costs as the updated standards are substantially similar to those they replace.
The volume of U.S. imports of hardwood plywood fell by 28.1% this year to date through August, as total value fell by more than 18%. Volumes from countries subject to this year's antidumping and countervailing duty rulings were down the most: Indonesia, Vietnam, and China fell by 49.2%, 74%, and 44%, respectively. However, imports from Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand increased dramatically.
U.S. imports of hardwood flooring and assembled flooring panels rose sharply in August. Imports of assembled flooring panels rose by 18% from the previous month to $26.9 million, an increase of 31% over August 2025.
U.S. imports of wooden furniture rallied in August, growing by 5% to $1.39 billion, reaching their highest level this year. However, this is 13% below last August, as this year's furniture imports are significantly lower than in recent years.
Southern Living recently interviewed designers on trends in kitchen design. Washington, DC-based designer Christopher Boutlier reported that "the goal isn't perfection anymore" and that his clients are gravitating toward rich wood cabinetry, painted finishes, and antique furniture mixed with new cabinetry.
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities will invest $5 million as the anchor investor in Conservation Resources' CRSilva Ventures fund. The fund will back practical, scalable businesses built around forests, forest products, and the rural communities they support.
Anderson Tuftex, a premium hardwood and carpet brand of DHA member Shaw Industries Group, has released its first flooring industry trend report, showing changing preferences among homeowners and interior designers. Homeowners continue to prioritize durability when selecting flooring. Nearly 70% of respondents said they value flooring that lasts at least 15 years. Another 63% strongly agreed that the right flooring makes a strong impression when guests enter their homes.
Oregon's 2026 wildfire season burned a record amount of land and cost more to fight than any other season, despite having fewer wildfires. More than 2.1 million acres burned across the state this year, surpassing the previous record set in 2024.
Three conservation groups are suing the U.S. Forest Service for reducing the size and wildlife protections in the Idaho portion of the Great Burn Recommended Wilderness, a massive 275,000-acre area along the Idaho-Montana border.
What is the name of the 2,600-acre living laboratory for hardwoods, and where is it located?