NEWS

The House Natural Resources Committee recently held a hearing about the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025. The goal is to modernize the act by focusing on species recovery, streamlining the permitting process, and reducing regulatory burdens. Key reforms include establishing clear statutory definitions, incentivizing species recovery, and providing regulatory certainty for private landowners engaged in conservation efforts.

Lawmakers have reintroduced the bipartisan Forest Conservation Easement Program Act. The legislation is designed to help conserve working forests and give landowners more options to ensure their land is protected. If passed, the law will prioritize keeping forests as forests, help landowners restore and protect habitats for at-risk species, and protect working forests by using conservation easements.

This week, President Trump announced his plan for reciprocal tariffs. Many wood products, which are covered by upcoming 232 decisions and listed in Annex II, are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs announced. DHA had already provided input to the administration through the U.S. Trade Representative's Office about the challenges resulting from unfair trade practices in Asia and from illegal imports of Russian wood. We will continue to advocate for our members and our industry.

President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate how imports of wood products affect national security. DHA provided expert insights, highlighting the negative impact of unfair trade practices from China and other countries in Asia on our members and how unfair trade practices weaken our industry.

Decorative Hardwoods Association (formerly HPVA) eNews Volume XVIII, Issue VII: DHA Advises On How Wood Product Imports Affect National Security | Trump Announces Reciprocal Tariffs | Endangered Species Act May Be Amended | U.S.