NEWS

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XVII, Issue XXIV: House Passes Bill Targeting Trade Crimes | EU Takes Another Step To Delay EUDR | AHEC Moves Forward With EUDR Response | FSC Blocks Chinese Plywood Manufacturer After Repeated False Claims

My thanks to DHA members for your support as we close out 2024 with our last issue of the newsletter for this year. We know that this year has been challenging for many parts of our industry as we have seen slower markets and increased imports. At DHA, we look forward to 2025 which will hopefully produce increased markets encouraged by lower inflation and lower interest rates that will boost homebuilding.

From which national forest is this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree?

Answer: This year, the tree will come from the Tongass National Forest—America's largest national forest. Previously, the only other U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to come from Alaska was sent from the Chugach National Forest in 2015.

PHOTO © USFS

Experts spent a full year completing risk assessments for U.S. hardwoods to evaluate all aspects of legal compliance throughout the industry. A sophisticated framework was used to assess the level of risk of illegal activities present within supply chains, from point of harvest to point of export, across all 33 hardwood-producing states. Full reports for each state will be published in January.

PHOTO © TIMBER PRODUCTS COMPANY

The Forest Stewardship Council recently added 18 months to the time a Chinese bamboo plywood manufacturer is blocked from FSC certification. FSC stated that the manufacturer repeatedly made false claims on large volumes of bamboo plywood. The manufacturer was originally blocked in 2022 for making false claims.