NEWS

Decorative Hardwoods Association and HPVA Laboratories® submitted comments on the draft Canadian Composite Wood Rule, encouraging harmonization with EPA TSCA VI testing and certification requirements. DHA emphasized the importance of avoiding creating an unintentional "dumping ground" in Canada for non-compliant products by instituting a different system. The Composite Panel Association also filed comments.

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The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) July/August 2019 European Market Report shows that U.S. hardwood exports to Europe dropped in the first half of the year.

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Market Report July/August 2019 (PDF)

The global plywood industry has been negatively affected by the U.S.-China trade war and the slowdown of China's economy. China still uses most of the world's plywood, accounting for 64% of total consumption with 101 million cubic meters. China's consumption is six times higher than the U.S., which is the world's second-largest consumer of plywood at 16 million cubic meters.

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In a positive development that resolves years of uncertainty over where federal jurisdiction begins and ends, EPA rescinded the Obama-era "Waters of the U.S.” rule on September 12. In August, the U.S. District Court for Georgia found that the substance of the rule violates the Clean Water Act.

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Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XII, Issue XVII: Self-Reporting Company Fined $544,000 Under EPA Formaldehyde Rule | EPA Revises Hardwood Plywood Air Toxics Standards | China Slaps New Tariffs On $9.3 Million Of U.S. Hardwood Plywood & Veneer | China Suspected Of Circumventing Hardwood Plywood Exports To U.S.