NEWS

DHA continues to forcefully advocate for our industry in the realm of international trade. We recently sent comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on issues related to non-reciprocal trade. In recent years, many in our industry have successfully pursued unfair trade cases against China and Vietnam, but U.S. trade law has not kept up. Thus, in our recent comments, DHA advocated for updating trade laws. DHA also pointed to the role that unsustainable and illegal Russian wood plays in unfairly traded imports from Asia in our comments to the USTR and in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

While the U.S. is considering many changes to tariff policy, Europe and other countries are not standing still. Europe has joined Canada in proposing tariffs on U.S. wood products.

These and other issues will be front and center at DHA's annual meeting in San Antonio on May 13–15. I encourage all members and staff to join us at the annual meeting and take part in the discussions about our industry's policies and future.

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

Keith A. Christman, President

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requested country-by-country comments from industry experts to assist the agency in reviewing and identifying any unfair trade practices by other countries. In response, DHA has filed comments on non-reciprocal trade relationships and tariffs. DHA highlighted that our members have been harmed by unfair trade practices engaged in by countries throughout the world, particularly Asia.

DHA sent an official letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury supporting a ban on all products manufactured from Russian wood, whether imported from Russia or a third country, after comments by the Trump administration suggesting the possibility of new sanctions on Russia. Russian wood not only funds the war in Ukraine but also supplies illegally and unsustainably harvested wood to countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

On March 12, the European Union announced proposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products. The list of products targeted by the EU is extensive and includes many wood products: lumber, veneer, moulding, flooring, plywood, OSB, casks, and more. After a consultation period this month, these tariffs will go into effect in April. Stakeholders, including U.S. manufacturers, are encouraged to comment online.

This month, EPA announced 31 deregulatory actions designed to help improve the economy and streamline regulations. The actions include a wide range of climate restrictions, particulate matter rules, and reconsidering barriers to prescribed burns to prevent wildfires.

EPA recently announced that it will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to solicit public input and write a new regulation for the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). The goal is to cut red tape, lower the cost of permits, and reduce the cost of doing business while protecting navigable waters from pollution. 

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce has been instructed, by an executive order issued March 1, to determine how imports of wood products, including timber, lumber, and their derivative products, affect national security. Comments are due by April 1. 

The U.S. accounts for more than half of Vietnam's total exports of wood products. The 2025 export goal of Vietnam's wood industry was set at growth of about 10–15% to reach a total of more than $18.5 billion. Now, however, the U.S. Section 232 investigation could result in tariffs of up to 25% on sawn wood and forestry products, effective April 2.

The Timber Exporters' Association of Malaysia recently commented on potential threats to its timber industry. In addition to impending tariffs, the U.S. and the EU have proposed classifying Shorea (meranti), and apitong (keruing) as unsustainable under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 

Interior design experts, published in The Wall Street Journal, stated that kitchen design trends are continuing to move away from sterile, white kitchens toward organic colors. Today's most in-demand trends include beiges, soft browns, and dark wood.

Prepac Manufacturing, a ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturer, is preparing to cut more than 170 jobs in Canada and shift operations to its North Carolina facility. Unifor, the labor union representing the Canadian workers, stated that Prepac used the threat of U.S. tariffs to justify the change.

The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association has named the winners of the 2025 KCMA Design Awards Competition. This year's competition attracted entries from 46 projects, more than double the previous year.

In Vermont, nearly 150 sawmills have closed in the last 25 years. Those concerned include mill operators, loggers, conservation groups, ecologists, state officials, and foresters, who warn that the closures make it harder to keep Vermont's forestlands intact, as an active forest industry helps counteract the financial pressure to develop the land.

Fire scientist Mark Finney said that "we're definitely part of the problem." He believes that the U.S. still doesn't implement some fundamental practices that could limit forest fires, such as clearing dead and dry vegetation through prescribed burns—including near urban areas. He also said that some smaller wildland fires should be allowed to burn to eliminate fuel that would feed larger fires.

How many years can hardwood flooring last?

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