BLOG

In our last email, we noted that 2022 was an eventful year that dramatically affected our industry, from the war in Ukraine to an important preliminary finding from the U.S. Department of Commerce that imports of hardwood plywood from Vietnam were circumventing the duties on Chinese hardwood plywood. 2022 was also an eventful year for the Decorative Hardwoods Association; we sent the highlights of what we achieved together to DHA members last week. If you are a DHA member and did not receive your copy, please contact me so I can send you one. If you are not a DHA member, contact me to see what you're missing and how joining DHA can help you and your business.

The Commerce Department's preliminary finding of circumvention on imports of hardwood plywood from Vietnam appears to be slowing those imports substantially. In the first half of 2022, imports from Vietnam were running at a rate of 94 million square feet per month, but in October and November, those imports declined to less than one-third of that rate. Unfortunately, the Commerce Department is considering letting many importers off the hook after those importers launched a misleading lobbying campaign targeting the circumvention duties—despite the producers' failure to participate truthfully in Commerce’s circumvention review.

If you have questions or comments, contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Keith A. Christman, President
Decorative Hardwoods Association