NEWS

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XIV, Issue XIX: COVID Lockdowns Deal Blow To Vietnam's Timber & Furniture Industries | Surge In U.S. Hardwood Flooring Imports Ebbs | U.S. Customs Finds Chinese Cabinets Evade Duties By Transshipping Through Malaysia | U. S. Trade Court Remands Hardwood Plywood Rate Determination

After three months of severe pandemic-related lockdowns in Vietnam, some furniture companies are moving production back to China. Vietnam's government ordered all factories to shut down after a June outbreak of COVID, only allowing them to reopen if workers were housed on-site. About 50% of timber processing companies in Vietnam were forced to stop operations and are now facing the possibility of bankruptcy. Others are still allowed to operate but are at less than 50% of capacity.

What and where is the largest tree in Canada?

Answer:  The Cheewhat Giant is a western red cedar located near Cheewhat Lake in British Columbia.

Photo © Ancient Forest Alliance

U.S. hardwood exports to Greater China and Southeast Asia are sustaining a recovery through 2021. The latest data for this year shows that the value of U.S. hardwood log exports to Greater China is $327 million, up 35% from 2020. U.S. exports of hardwood lumber have reached $479 million, up 1.7%.

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AHEC reports that Chinese tariff exemptions, originally set to expire on September 17, have been extended until April 16, 2022. The tariffs apply to both hardwood logs and lumber products exported to China.

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Woodworking Network: China extends hardwood tariff exemptions