What Will 2026 Bring For Trade?
Ashley A. Amidon, CAE
Executive Director
International Wood
Products Association
2025 was quite the tumultuous year for any business involved in international trade, and especially importers of wood products that endured months of uncertainty associated with the Trump Administration’s Section 232 investigation on the national security impact of wood products. While our industry avoided some of the more dire possibilities such as a universal 50 or 100 percent tariff on all wood products, significant uncertainty will continue into 2026.
If we learned anything last year, it’s that we must remain vigilant for developments that can happen at any moment and can have profound impacts on member businesses. Late on New Years Eve, as I was preparing to enjoy a nice relaxing cocktail and put 2025 in the rearview mirror, we received word that the Trump Administration had delayed the planned Section 232 duty increases on upholstered furniture and wooden cabinets and vanities. The IWPA team put our respective adult beverages down and quickly fired off an alert to members, knowing that international supply chains do not pause for holidays.
As we execute our advocacy plans for 2026, one of the most critical processes for our industry will be the Section 232 inclusion process which we expect to be rolled out early in 2026. Under the 232 Proclamation, the Secretary of Commerce must establish a process to determine if adding products to the scope of the tariffs will reduce or eliminate the national security threat. It is widely expected that stakeholders will be able to propose additional products, and that some could do so for competitive reasons.
By October, we expect the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report to the President determining whether additional duties on imports of hardwood timber and lumber specifically are necessary. IWPA staff, working closely with our members, will be active at every opportunity continuing to educate policymakers at Commerce and throughout the federal government about the importance of imported hardwood timber and lumber products to U.S. manufacturers and consumers.
And while the President’s tariff actions are always in the headlines, IWPA staff know that there are other issues like port entry delays, formaldehyde emissions regulations, CITES trade requirements, and other issues that haven’t gone away.
Our advocacy proved crucial in 2025, and we know that it will be even more so in 2026. I encourage you to work closely with our team to find ways you can participate in our advocacy through our member-led committees, virtual Hill meetings, and our annual Washington Fly-In.
To help us continue to strengthen our industry, we also hope you will make plans to join us for this year’s 70th World of Wood Convention which will take place March 17-19 at the Broadmoor in beautiful Colorado Springs.
All evidence suggests 2026 will be a pivotal year for our industry. We at IWPA are proud to be your advocates.
