NEWS

A bipartisan Congressional letter called for the International Trade Commission to enforce U.S. trade law and protect the American cabinet and vanity industry from dumping of kitchen cabinets. The letter stressed that imports of cabinets from China have increased by more than 75% since 2015. Oregon's Senators filed a separate letter of support. The ITC has scheduled a final injury hearing for February 20.

The American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors argues that the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on ready-to-assemble cabinets is not warranted.

After a devastating fire that completely destroyed the green end of their rotary face veneer mill, Manthei Veneer rebuilt with a new Meinan 8-foot lathe that runs thicknesses of 1/12 to 1/82 of an inch. A new Taihei knife grinder allows the mill to peel a wide variety of species. The mill competes now with thin Asian veneers and helps reduce costs for its hardwood plywood customers, noted Jeremy Manthei, President.

A Chinese cabinetmaker, GoldenHome, may invest $86 million in a new manufacturing plant near Charlotte, creating 256 jobs. The city of Concord is considering a major tax incentive package which includes an $803,515 grant paid over 5 years.

Global wood consumption increased by only 0.3% in 2019, the lowest increase in the last decade, after growing by an average of 2.2% per year for the last 20 years. China, North America, and Europe account for more than 75% of global wood consumption.

As the virus spreads throughout China, there are fears that it could disrupt the wood trade and global wood supply chain. Banks, warehouses, and factories have been prohibited from operating and employees were ordered to stay home and work online until the government states otherwise.

In March, HPVA Laboratories® will become Capital Testing. The laboratory, which has proudly served the wood products industry with testing, certifications, and inspections since 1954, is rebranding to better reflect their wide range of services, including fire and physical property testing.

Governor Kate Brown announced the historic deal between the Oregon forestry industry and environmental groups. She stated that healthy forests and a vibrant forestry industry are not mutually exclusive and that Oregonians need both a prosperous and sustainable community.

Environmental groups attacked the 10-year forest management plan for the Temagami forest. They contend that the forest is home to nearly 50% of the world's old-growth red and white pine forests and that harvesting the wood will disrupt ecosystems and release substantial amounts of carbon.

Rep. Westerman's bill would commit to planting 3.3 billion trees each year for the next 30 years to help the U.S. achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Source: American Wood Counsel

A five-year study on biocontrol found that a tiny predatory beetle appears to be doing damage to the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive pest that threatens eastern hemlocks.

Expect to see more eco-friendly products and neutral and cool colors as well as the increased use of walnut and a streamlined look for kitchen cabinets.

Source: Latin Post