ITC Rules China Dumped Subsidized Plywood, Injuring U.S. Mills

by | Dec 6, 2017 | News

The International Trade Commission (ITC) issued its final determination, activating significant tariffs – nearly 200 percent – on some on imports of Chinese hardwood plywood, voting 4-0 that the domestic industry is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of these dumped and subsidized imports.

The trade group Coalition for the Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, which initiated efforts to get tariffs on Chinese plywood twice before times, commended the unanimous decision by the ITC, as “meaningful relief” for the U.S. hardwood plywood manufacturers. The Coalition says 42 mills have closed many more have had to reduce capacity, with a loss of 52,000 jobs in the U.S., and $2 billion in wages.

“Today’s decision demonstrates that the U.S. Government will not tolerate unfair trade practices and will support American manufacturing and workers,” said Kip Howlett, president of the Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association. “This puts American interests first by standing up to the illegal imports of Chinese hardwood plywood.”

Less exuberant are furniture and kitchen cabinet makers that favor the less expensive plywood from China, including members of  Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA), and other buyers who have lobbied against the ITC decision, which will lead to high tariffs. KCMA and other members of American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood – mostly distributors of Chinese plywood – expressed shock at the punitive tariffs that were not disclosed until President Trump returned from his recent trip to Asia following meetings with China’s President Xi.

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/verdict-china-dumped-subsidized-plywood-injuring-usmills-says-itc?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news

CLT Manufacturing To Increase In Pacific Northwest

by | Jul 10, 2015 | News

Oregon and southwest Washington make up one of 12 new regions accepted into the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership initiative. The program is a federal effort to increase domestic manufacturing by “supporting the development of coordinated, long-term economic development strategies in communities,” according to Business Oregon.

The U.S. Department of Commerce selected the regions based on competitive proposals. The first 12 regions were accepted last year and the Pacific Northwest was not among them. U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Prtizker said the initiative is critical to the administration’s efforts. “To support American manufacturing, create good paying jobs and spur sustainable growth across our country,” she said. She said the designation is an important positive signal to potential investors in the Northwest and other parts of the country.

The Pacific Northwest Partnership Region will focus on reviving and modernizing the timber industry. Cross-laminated timbers (CLT), a type of cross-hatched wood product, are as strong as steel or concrete and will be manufactured locally under the program.

On its website, Business Oregon says cross-laminated timbers have “significantly lower environmental impact, sequesters carbon and yet meets the same fire and safety code regulations as concrete and steel.” The new type of wood can even be used to frame skyscrapers.

From Jefferson Public Radio: https://ijpr.org/post/timber-manufacturing-increase-pacific-northwest