NEWS

The Washington State Forest Practices Board narrowly approved a controversial water buffer rule. The rule has been criticized by forestry and farming advocates and by local governments, who say that local economies will suffer. Forestry advocates noted that the rule will remove 200,000 acres of private forestland from use without financial compensation.

PHOTO © USFWS PACIFIC NW REGION WASHINGTON STATE

EU lawmakers supported a recent proposal to reduce due diligence requirements under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The ballot came after the European Commission's announcement last month that delayed implementation until the end of 2026. Pressure from a wide range of countries, including the U.S. and Brazil, helped lead to the change.

Nearly 40 Tennessee hardwood companies joined the hundreds of U.S. hardwood companies asking for federal relief as a result of tariffs. 452 lumber industry mills, manufacturers, and distributors across the U.S. signed a letter to the Trump administration, documenting that the industry has lost an estimated $9 billion in opportunities since 2018, when President Trump first escalated tariffs against China.

On November 5, the U.S. government argued before the Supreme Court that tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Economic Emergency Act (IEEPA) were lawful because they are regulatory and not designed to raise revenue. However, as President Trump has publicly claimed that the tariffs have raised massive amounts of money, the government's argument is unlikely to convince the court.

Good news: the recent government funding deal included a one-year extension of the remaining provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill that had not been reauthorized as part of the budget reconciliation that was signed into law on July 4. The Wood Innovation and Community Wood Grant programs and the Forest Inventory and Analysis program are now authorized through September 30, 2026.

PHOTO © PRESTON KERES, USFS