NEWS

Exports of hardwood lumber declined sharply soon after China placed retaliatory 25% tariffs on imports of U.S. lumber and other wood products. Exports of U.S. hardwood logs have fallen but are still on pace to exceed $500 million.

Resources:

The U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition claims that panels made with Brazilian pine and certified by any of three U.S. certification agencies - PFS TECO, Timber Products Inspection Inc., and International Accreditation Services - do not meet the performance requirements of U.S. Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-09. Allegedly, 35 Brazilian companies are falsely labeling structural panels imported to the U.S. as certified that do not meet the standard. Timber Products Inspection Inc.

The EPA has suspended or revoked recognition of third-party certifiers (TPCs) of TSCA Title VI formaldehyde emission standards in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. None of these companies may certify producers until their TPC status has been reinstated. Panel producers using these TPCs have 90 days to find a new TPC and must still comply with all EPA regulatory requirements.

Resource:

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XII, Issue XVIII: Canadian Formaldehyde Regulations Draw Comments | EPA Repeals "Waters of the U.S." Rule | Global Plywood Industry Is Under Stress | Collapse Of Log Prices In China Negatively Impacts New Zealand | Vietnam's Forestry Exports Up 18.6%

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.

Resources: