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 INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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China's Dishonest Trade Practices
China’s unfair trade of hardwood plywood is an American issue, said Brad Thompson, Columbia Forest Products, and Joe Gonyea III, Timber Products Company, in Forbes. Exports to the U.S. grew more than 35% over the past 2 years, hurting U.S. businesses and costing thousands of jobs. China captured more than 50% of the U.S. market by using illegal subsidies. The International Trade Commission agrees that there is "reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by imports of hardwood plywood from China."
Source: HPVA®; CNBC, Woodworking Network, December 30; Forbes, December 29, 2016.
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REGULATORY NEWS
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Emission Standards Tightened
The European Panel Federation is launching European Low Emission Standards for formaldehyde. The limits are 0.065 ppm for particleboard and plywood and 0.1 ppm for MDF/HDF, OSB, hard fiberboard, and wood-fiber insulation board. These numerical values for particleboard and MDF are lower than the EPA standard; however, the European standard is voluntary. Hardwood plywood has the lowest emission standards globally under EPA, CARB, Canadian, and ANSI standards.
Source: Builder, EUWID, December 16, 2016. Photo © HPVA Laboratories®.
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SPECIAL REPORT: ILLEGAL WOOD TRADE
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Global Forestry Report Released
The Global Forest Export Panel just published "Illegal Logging and Related Timber Trade – Dimensions, Drivers, Impacts and Responses." The objective: to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of illegal logging and related timber trade. The report concludes: "Illegally-produced wood products (except for lumber) are more likely illegally traded than legal wood products. Plywood has the highest percentage of illegal production and trade, and almost all illegal hardwood plywood is exported."
Source: International Union of Forest Research Organizations, December 2016.
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Forestry Corruption Costs $29 Billion
Interpol estimates the cost of corruption in the forestry industry at $29 billion per year. Bribery is most common, followed by fraud, abuse of office, extortion, cronyism, and nepotism. Government officials in forestry agencies are most likely to be involved. Other government agencies, law enforcement, and logging companies were found to be "extensively involved" in corruption.
Source: Timberbiz, December 15, 2016.
New Rosewood Regulations In Effect As Of January 2
Rosewood now falls under the "endangered species" designation. Importers of products containing solid rosewood or rosewood veneers will have to secure permits to prove that all are being harvested legally. There is no phase-in period; all shipments are subject to the rule even if exported before January 2.
Source: Furniture Today, December 28, 2016. Photo © Andy King.
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ASSOCIATION NEWS
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Danzer Announces Next Generation
Olof von Gagern is retiring after 21 years with Danzer. His successor as CEO of Danzer Veneer Europe is Rudi Heinzelmann. Ulrich Grauert is now CEO of Interholco AG. Going forward, the Danzer and Interholco brands will operate independently of each other, as Danzer focuses on hardwood from temperate forests and Interholco on tropical forest management and as a producer of tropical wood.
Source: Danzer, January 10, 2017.
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Positive Signs For U.S. Housing, Construction
Builder confidence closed 2016 on a high note, jumping 7 points to 70 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Anything over 50 shows that builders view conditions as good.
Source: Construction Dive, January 3, 2017; NAHB, December 23; NAHB, December 16; NAHB, December 15, 2016.
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NAHB Sues Over OSHA Rule
NAHB and industry groups allege that the OSHA rule, "Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses," overreaches, violating the First and Fifth amendments.
Source: Construction Dive, January 5, 2017.
Chinese Developers Build Skyscrapers
The 3 proposed residential skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles will cost about $1 billion.
Source: Construction Dive, December 29, 2016.
Unlocking Wood Strength
Father-and-son researchers from Cambridge and Warwick Universities unlocked the mystery of the relationship between cellulose and xylan.
Source: Timberbiz, December 22, 2016.
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The Secret Of The Stradivarius?
A new study suggests that an extended chemical bath could have altered the wood fiber structure of the violins crafted by Antonio Stradivari.
Source: The Washington Post, December 23, 2016.
California's "Tunnel Tree" Toppled
The Pioneer Cabin tree was no match for massive winter storms on the West Coast last weekend.
Source: See photos on Twitter, January 9, 2017.
Masco Recalls Kitchen Cabinets
Masco Cabinetry issued a voluntary recall of KraftMaid and Merillat Masterpiece brands due to the potential risk of tipovers.
Source: Woodworking Network, December 27, 2016.
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Send Us Your Company News, Ideas For Articles, And More
We are always looking for great stories, news about your company, and interesting multimedia. We also welcome feedback on this week's content and suggestions for topics you would like to see in upcoming HPVA® eNews. Email us at innovate@hpva.org.
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