NEWS

Why are porcupines enemies of hardwood trees?

Answer: Porcupines eat the inner bark of hardwood trees, especially during winter when other food is scarce. They favor species such as aspen, maple, beech, and basswood. Their feeding can damage trees by stripping away bark, sometimes girdling and killing them.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association has released its 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. The report found that designers are moving away from completely open layouts in favor of defined zones, partial walls, and operable partitions, and that the overall kitchen footprint is growing. 34% of designers expect natural material cabinets - with no finish - to be popular. White oak is the wood of choice for 49% of designers.

Despite new U.S. tariffs, Canada reported the largest trade surplus in four years. Canada's month-over-month trade surplus with the U.S. grew from $12.1 billion to $12.3 billion in September. Exports increased slightly after the implementation of Section 338 tariffs in late August.

The scheme to avoid U.S. tariffs by exporting semi-finished products from China followed by simple assembly in Southeast Asia is no longer feasible. New Section 301 tariffs added another 12.5% tariff on imports from Vietnam and Thailand and 10% on those from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia. U.S. Customs has strengthened enforcement against false claims of origin and transshipment.

If the Trump administration follows through on its current plans, the 25% Section 232 tariffs on kitchen cabinets will double to 50% on January 1. Canadian cabinet makers are already struggling with the tariffs and with dumped and subsidized cabinets from China. Some manufacturers are weighing options for moving part of their production to the U.S.