NEWS

Despite fierce competition facing the hardwood flooring category, there are diehard traditionalists who will accept nothing other than real hardwood flooring. Hardwood reigns as the most aspirational flooring category and provides the highest return on investment of any flooring. Click on the link below to see what trends are driving demand today.

PHOTO © MULLICAN FLOORING

32 members of Congress sent a letter to the Trump administration to request a change in policy. The letter revealed that the value of U.S. hardwood log exports exceeded the value of sawn lumber exports for the first time ever and stated that "American forests are supplying the raw material for foreign mills to displace American workers." Russia now dominates the Chinese market for hardwood lumber, once worth $1.5 billion per year to U.S. mills. 

On July 15, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a final 25% tariff on some imports from Brazil.

On July 14, federal agencies published a final rule rescinding their longstanding regulatory definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a result, forest management, grazing, and infrastructure projects that only affect habitat may face fewer ESA-related consultations.

PHOTO © CLAUDIO BERNSTEIN, USFS

In less than one year, the new Department of Justice Trade Fraud Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security recovered more than $1 billion, including civil and criminal penalties and fees. This milestone reflects a fundamental shift in the federal government's approach to customs and trade enforcement, which emphasizes rigorous criminal prosecution and civil enforcement under the False Claims Act.