U.S. imports $360m birch plywood, raising Russian wood concerns

The United States imported nearly $360 million worth of birch plywood from Vietnam and Indonesia in 2024, despite neither country having native birch forests, according to the Decorative Hardwoods Association (DHA). The DHA says these imports are produced using Russian-origin birch, fueling concerns about unfair trade practices and environmental damage. In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the DHA urged the administration to increase tariffs on birch plywood imports and ban products made with Russian wood. The association argues that these imports undermine American manufacturers and indirectly support Russia’s economy, citing that Russian logs ...