NEWS

In March, U.S. imports of hardwood plywood fell by 2% to 172,579 cubic meters, the lowest level since April 2023 and less than half the amount imported last March. Imports from Indonesia dropped by 47% in March and 62% in Q1; imports from Vietnam fell by 29% in March and 45% in Q1. Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties and investigations into Indonesia and Vietnam went into effect in Q1.

On May 7, a federal trade court struck down the round of tariffs imposed by President Trump to replace import taxes that the Supreme Court struck down earlier this year. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade issued a permanent injunction blocking the 10% tariff Trump placed on nearly all U.S. imports in February.

PHOTO © JERRY GLASER, USCBP

On May 3, the European Commission published its much-anticipated simplification document for the EU Deforestation Regulation. Despite the best efforts of a united U.S. forest products industry, including the Hardwood Federation and  American Hardwood Export Council, minimal changes were made to the existing rule for the U.S. supply chain. Our primary concern, the definition of "plot of land," was not addressed.

DHA joined the Coalition for a Prosperous America to urge the House Judiciary Committee to schedule a markup of the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act. The legislation is designed to strengthen enforcement of U.S. trade laws and help combat tariff evasion and customs fraud, including transshipment, undervaluation, and misclassification of imported goods. 

PHOTO © USCBP

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XIX, Issue X: DHA Annual Meeting Addresses Key Industry Issues | DHA Elects New Leadership | EUDR “Simplification” Fails To Simplify | U.S. Trade Court Strikes Down Replacement Tariffs | U.S.