The United States (@4.5%) and Canada (@2.75%) hold their benchmark interest rates steady. On the Canada-US trade front: Carney says Aug 1 deadline may not be met; Premier Eby wants to keep lumber on the table; and Ontario’s Kevin Holland and Guy Bourgouin bemoan the US antidumping rate hike. Meanwhile, Vaughn Palmer says BC NDP brush off industry solutions; Campbell River’s Mayor calls for permit action; BPWood expands its supplier network; MNP helps with BC’s Motor Fuel Tax; Boise Cascade faces strike in Billings, Montana; Clearwater Paper and Smurfit WestRock report Q2 earnings; and Georgia-Pacific’s CEO is retiring.

In Forestry/Wildfire news: Canada’s Annual Report on the State of its Forests begets ENGO pushback; logging in California said to benefit water and species; Oregon’s wildfire bill cut landowner costs; Washington ENGO’s say collaboration gives way to timber interests; and wildfires, smoke and evacuations dominate the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, and tragically, the Nebraska wood pellet explosion resulted in 3 deaths.

Finally, a UK study says global wood harvest is sufficient for climate-friendly timber cities.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor