NEWS

The U.S. Department of Commerce's final duty rule on Chinese imports of wood cabinets and vanities ranges from 13.33 to 269.91%, with most Chinese manufacturers to be assessed at about 59%. If the International Trade Commission finds that U.S. industry has been injured, these rates will apply in addition to Section 301 duties. A presentation by U.S. industry to the ITC demonstrates significant injury from Chinese imports.

The International Trade Commission stated that there is a "reasonable indication" that U.S. wood molding and millwork companies are being hurt by imports from China and Brazil. The Department of Commerce will continue its antidumping and countervailing duty investigation and make preliminary decisions by April 2 and June 16.

The Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to issue a scope ruling confirming that certain hardwood plywood products from China that are assembled in Vietnam before being imported into the U.S. are within the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain hardwood plywood products from China.

China announced it would remove tariffs for some types of hardwood logs and lumber for one year, beginning February 28. China prefers to use raw materials from other countries as it rebuilds its own forests, and, as the largest wood product exporter in the world, needs to reduce costs on incoming raw materials.

The lack of space in Chinese ports means that New Zealand's log exports to China are grinding to a halt. While the Lunar New Year holiday has ended, many Chinese sawmills have yet to restart operations due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

With just 16 cases in a population of 96 million, the effect on Vietnam's economy has been far-reaching. Wood processing firms were advised to seek alternative suppliers. Public schools are closed. Flights between China and Vietnam were suspended. The tourism industry may lose more than $7 billion, as China is Vietnam's largest source of tourists.

The furniture and design trade show, Salone del Mobile.Milano, has been postponed from late April to June 16 - 21 due to the outbreak of coronavirus in northern Italy. Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor rescheduled its annual trade show in Shanghai from late March to August 31 - September 2.

IDM's lead story covers what could be the biggest illegal timber operation on earth right now – an operation to clear 2,800 square kilometers of virgin forest in Papau for the biggest oil palm project on the planet. The ongoing logging was already certified under Indonesia's SVLK certification scheme, but officials in Papua allege that the plantation permits are fakes.

Among the trends: "cerused" wood cabinets - using several different color pigments to highlight wood grain patterns, reclaimed wood cabinets for an Old World farmhouse look, and two-toned wood cabinets.

The National Wood Flooring Association, in collaboration with NAHB, has updated its guidelines on installing wood flooring. The new guidelines address elevated moisture in the home during the construction process, tighter building envelopes and the effect on moisture, and inoperable HVAC systems during the construction process.

Every year, thousands of designers, specifiers, architects, woodworkers and more use DHA's Where To Buy membership directory to find hardwood plywood, engineered wood flooring, veneer, and the machinery and supplies needed to produce beautiful hardwood products.

China's revised Forest Law will go into effect in July. The new law will shift its focus away from timber production and seek to balance forest management to more fully realize the role of forests in providing economic, social, ecological, and cultural services.

The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule, designed to protect navigable waters from pollution and promote economic growth, is receiving support from a wide range of stakeholders.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization have agreed to work together to monitor forests and mangroves around the world amid deepening concerns over climate change.

Each year, about 8 million tons of plastic end up in the world's oceans. This includes microplastic, the tiny fragments that can enter the food chain. Increasing the use of paper can help solve the problem. The Canadian government intends to ban single-use plastics by 2021.

In the last two months, the destructive emerald ash borer has been detected in ten additional counties: three in South Carolina, two in Iowa, two in New Jersey, and one each in Colorado, Kansas, and Tennessee.

The Mjösa Tower, an 18-story structure constructed with glued-laminated timber, cross-laminated timber, and laminated veneer lumber, is located next to Norway’s largest lake.