NEWS

U.S. Congress will convene this month for its final sessions of 2024. Lawmakers are expected to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes an important provision that directs the Department of Defense and GSA to stop using endangered tropical apitong for military truck and trailer beds and begin using sustainable U.S. red oak instead.

27 members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to push the Biden administration to follow the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling to overhaul the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS).

The Hardwood Federation and American Hardwood Export Council met with USDA staff to discuss the status of the EU Deforestation Regulation and its potential impact on the U.S. hardwood industry. The good news: USDA understands the many challenges of the EUDR and has been working with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to communicate concerns to their European counterparts.

Sales of cabinets have continued to decline. In September, sales volume fell by 13.8% vs. September 2023. Year-to-date through September, the volume of cabinets sold was 5.2% lower than last year and the dollar value of cabinets sold was down by 2.7%.

Read more: September Trend Of Business Report →

Logging—a way of life in Appalachia—is "hanging on by a thread," reported The Wall Street Journal. The story highlighted the decline in the U.S. furniture industry after China's admission to the World Trade Organization and the decline in U.S. lumber exports after China retaliated for tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

PHOTO © USFS CHRIS WARNER