NEWS

Decorative Hardwoods Association filed comments on the EPA's Draft Scope of the Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde supporting the exclusion of composite wood panels, which are already regulated by the EPA; clarification of the term "panel" to exclude laminated products and finished goods made with composite wood panels that are already regulated by the EPA; and exclusion of all solid wood.

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Several leaders in the forest products industry published statements in support of strengthening our community: Mark Sutton of International Paper to his global team, shared on Twitter; John Williams of Domtar, a public message on inclusion, diversity, and respect; Christian Fischer of Georgia Pacific, a pledge to support the Atlanta Committee for Progress in favor of positive change and a just society; Steve Voorhees of Westrock, a video address on LinkedIn; and David Taylor of Proctor &

Product advisories warning against buying or selling substandard, unsafe plywood from Brazil have been sent to U.S. importers and building code and homebuilder associations. The warnings are the result of a motion filed by a coalition of ten U.S. plywood companies against two licensing agencies, TPI and PFS-TECO, who certified the plywood as safe. U.S. tests showed massive failure rates.

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The Canada Border Services Agency has announced that it will initiate an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation into decorative and other non-structural plywood imported from China. For years, China has sold large volumes of decorative plywood in Canada at low prices.

If the CBSA issues a positive final determination, provisional duties may be imposed. In exceptional circumstances, antidumping duties may be imposed retroactively to June 11.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has officially begun an investigation into whether imports of hardwood plywood finished in Vietnam, but with components supplied by China, circumvent current antidumping and countervailing duties on hardwood plywood imported from China. If Commerce determines that these imports fall within the scope of current duties or circumvent current duties, the U.S. will begin collecting cash deposits on future imports.