NEWS

In March, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture hosted an inbound trade mission focused on forest products, inviting buyers from India and Vietnam to meet with companies in the state's log and lumber industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will guarantee $115.2 million across eight states to ensure sawmills and other wood processing facilities have the necessary funding to establish, reopen, expand, or improve operations. The Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program will also fund projects to improve forest health.

The U.S. 2026 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers states that Canada is failing to prevent goods made with forced labor from entering its market. This finding comes as the U.S. pursues a Section 301 investigation that includes Canada and suggests the U.S. may ultimately find against Canada.

A recent editorial in Furniture Today outlined how the Trump administration has laid the foundation for rebuilding its tariff power, this time on a stronger legal footing, and how this will impact those in the furniture business. On March 11, the U.S. Trade Representative launched Section 301 investigations into 16 economies, including China, the EU, Vietnam, Mexico, and Indonesia, which supply much of the world's furniture.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, U.S. imports of Russian birch plywood reached 11,300 cubic meters in February, up by 42% vs. January. The U.S. is still one of Russia's largest export markets for plywood. Russian oligarchs aligned with Putin are reported to be the primary beneficiaries, likely helping fund Russian war efforts.

PHOTO © BRIAN E KUSHNER