NEWS

As a result of China's trade ban, Australian timber companies are turning to India as a new market for timber.

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ABC News: China trade ban paves the way for India as new market for Australian timber

Japan, formerly the world's biggest consumer of tropical logs, is likely to stop importing them entirely.

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Nikkei Asia: Japan tapers imports of logs from tropical trees to near zero

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced final affirmative determinations on wood mouldings and millwork imported from China. The resulting antidumping duties are 33.87% and the countervailing duty (subsidy) rate is 20.56%. The USITC will make a final determination on injury to the U.S. industry before these rates become effective.

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In response to complaints from Canadian furniture companies, the Canadian Border Services Agency announced that it has launched an investigation to determine if upholstered furniture from China and Vietnam is being sold at unfair prices in Canada. A decision on the investigation is scheduled to occur by February 19.

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More than 100,000 tons of illegal lumber has entered the European market, all linked to the Russian timber giant BM Group. The company is led by Russian tycoon Alexander Pudovkin, who now faces criminal charges of bribery and corruption. PEFC, a major timber accreditation body, has been criticized for "greenwashing" BM Group's exports.

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