NEWS

Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that the U.S. will begin a circumvention investigation on wooden cabinets that were allegedly transshipped from China through Vietnam. The American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance is the plaintiff in the case where the U.S. Department of Commerce will investigate suspicions of trade remedy tax evasion on cabinets imported from both Vietnam and Malaysia.

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Last week, Decorative Hardwoods Association unveiled our new AIA-approved continuing education program for architects and designers, an on-demand, web-based series. The first course in the series is an introduction to decorative hardwood products, including harvesting, sustainability, and greenhouse gas storage. Participants will earn AIA health, safety, and welfare credits for each course.

Responding to an Office of Management and Budget request for information, DHA argued that unfinished hardwood plywood and veneer should be considered "construction materials" under the Build America, Buy America Act. To qualify for purchases by the U.S. government, all manufacturing processes of construction materials must be conducted in the U.S. per the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

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The Executive Office of the President notified DHA that Section 301 tariffs will be terminated "unless the U.S. Trade Representative receives a written request to continue" the tariffs. Section 301 tariffs, imposed under President Trump, added 25% to hardwood plywood, engineered wood floors, and kitchen cabinets from China.

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According to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, kitchen cabinet sales increased 11.3% in March vs. last year. Custom sales are up 17.4%, semi-custom sales are up 3.3%, and stock sales are up 15.7%. Cabinets are one of the largest markets for hardwood plywood.

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