IWPA Is Busy In The Halls Of Power So You Don’t Have To Be
By Ashley Amidon CAE
Executive Director
International Wood Products Association
Alexandria, VA
(703) 820-7807 (c)
www.iwpawood.org
Trade policy and increased tariffs have been at the forefront of President Trump’s agenda throughout the first nine months of his second term. Companies that trade in globally sourced wood products are struggling to stay on top of legal and regulatory developments that seem to change from week-to-week or in some cases even day-to-day. IWPA has worked to be the one-stop shop for members tracking trade policy as it affects our industry. We also continue to work with policymakers to shape policy where possible. It’s difficult work, but we are passionate about the important role our industry plays in supporting the U.S. economy and the global forest industry.
IWPA has
- Submitted comprehensive public comments as part of the President’s Section 232 investigation into whether there is a national security threat from imports of timber, lumber and derivative products
- Met with every relevant agency to educate policymakers how wood is fundamentally different from other commodities, in that not every species can be grown in the United States
- Provided testimony to panel of Agencies led by USTR as part of the Section 301 investigation into allegations of illegal deforestation in Brazil
- Championed the needs of the industry in front of Fish & Wildlife Service as they prepare for the upcoming 20th meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties
- Continue to meet with Members of Congress about how fixes are needed to prevent port delays associated with Lacey Act enforcement
- Focused on Fall Fly-In day on the need for an exclusion process for 232, to ensure that products not able to be grown in the United States are not unfairly included
IWPA has sought out every opportunity to educate policymakers about how poorly conceived it is to punish U.S. businesses importing products with no direct domestic substitution will negatively impact U.S. manufacturers and consumers.
In early September, an announcement about how the Trump Administration is implementing bilateral trade agreements showed that our advocacy combined with many other voices is getting results. The President’s Executive Order modifying the scope of the reciprocal tariffs and establishing procedures for implementing trade and security agreements recognized that there are certain products that either cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States. The list of products included in the Executive Order contains many wood products that don’t grow domestically, and as such the Order states that imports of these products from countries that have reached trade agreements with the United States may be eligible for zero tariffs under certain conditions. Of course, this isn’t the last word on tariffs for globally sourced wood products, but it is a clear signal that tariffs can and should be tailored to minimize the negative impact on U.S. businesses that require access to products that aren’t available domestically.
IWPA has a small but mighty team of public policy professionals who are busy even on weekends, ensuring the industry has the most up-to-date news; and not just breaking headlines but helping to break down how trade actions will impact your business day-to-day. It isn’t always easy, but we do it because we truly believe that our industry supports communities, forests and manufacturing jobs here in the United States and around the world. If you want to join our efforts, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
