NEWS

The Timber Harvesters, Haulers, and Landowners Market Disruptions Relief Act would create a federal assistance program to provide financial relief to forest products harvesting and hauling businesses affected by market disruptions such as mills closures, lower timber prices, or less demand.

The House Committee on Agriculture has released a draft of the 2026 Farm Bill, which includes additional funding for export promotion programs that support the American Hardwood Export Council and ongoing funding for Wood Innovations, Community Wood, and Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance grants. The draft bill also includes the Jobs in the Woods Act, which would fund job training programs in the wood products industry, and language to codify biomass carbon neutrality.

DHA joined more than 500 organizations to urge Congress to "take decisive action to modernize the definition of woody biomass under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to enable the use of wood as a qualifying RFS feedstock." U.S. working forests are facing mounting economic pressure as long-standing markets for pulpwood and residuals continue to disappear.

On February 20, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and stated that his administration would begin new investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and other authorities, which might result in additional duties. On February 21, he announced that the global tariff would be increased to 15%.

On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's 2025 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs were unlawful. The ruling does not affect individual trade deals the Trump administration negotiated with other countries, nor does it affect Section 232 duties on cabinets and furniture, Section 301 duties on China, or antidumping and countervailing duties.

PHOTO © DANIEL TOROK