NEWS

Japan's Ministry of Environment has built a new supercar made of wood. The car's body is made of nano cellulose fibers, which weigh one-fifth as much as steel and are five times as strong. The car is half the weight of a traditional car, with a 10% overall reduction in mass.

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Jalopnik: The Car Is Made Of Wood

Volume XII, Issue XXI: Happy Halloween: It's Bat Week | U.S. Hardwood Lumber Industry Hit Hard By Trade War | U.S. Still Major Supplier Of Hardwood Logs To China | Massive China-Russia Timber Center Created In China

A trial began this month that could decide the fate of Oregon's state forests. 150 counties and districts in Oregon have brought a $1.4 billion breach-of-contact lawsuit against the State of Oregon, alleging mismanagement of the forestlands.

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Through Q3, China imported more than 67% of its oak logs from France, Russia, and the U.S. (13%). Imports of cherry, black walnut, and maple came from the U.S. (78%) and Canada (19%). Total Chinese log imports exceeded $44 billion; the U.S. was China's fourth-largest supplier at 6.8%.

Chinese tariffs on red oak, walnut, and other hardwood lumber have resulted in steep losses: nearly 50% of total industry revenue since 2017. The largest North American supplier of hardwood is closing its Washington sawmill, laying off all 70 employees, and closing another mill in Virginia.

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