Trump announced 25% tariff on cars, then threatened higher levies if Canadian and EU retaliations hurt the US economy. In related news: Unifor sees existential threat to forest workers; RBC says Canada can still grow its forest industry; tariffs revive painful memories of pandemic-era toilet paper shortages; US economic optimism falls; flatbed trucking costs rise; and Vermont and Idaho foresee layoffs. In other Business news: Doman temporarily curtails Arkansas planer mill; and a wood flooring importer is fined for evading US anti-dumping laws.
In Forestry/Climate news: a UN report raises forest diversity concerns; BC rushes to finish wildfire mitigation before summer; Colorado’s latest forest pest report; Oklahoma’s chief forester is out of a job; Maine’s climate-smart forestry is at risk; and the war takes it toll on Ukraine’s forests.
Finally, Venice’s upside-down forest keeps the 1604-year-old city afloat.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor
COFI 2025 Convention: April 2-4, Prince George, BC — The global trade landscape is evolving rapidly. Economic uncertainty, shifting regulations, and geopolitical challenges are reshaping market access for Canadian forest products. Staying competitive requires a clear understanding of emerging risks and strategic opportunities. At the COFI 2025 Convention, a panel of industry experts will examine the forces shaping international trade and explore actionable strategies to enhance industry resilience. Presenter and Moderator Russ Taylor, President, Russ Taylor Global will lead the discussion with panelists: Kate Lindsay, Senior VP & Chief Sustainability Officer, Forest Products 
The American Wood Council (AWC) continues to do critical work on behalf of its members, and it is our pleasure to share notable examples from this past year… AWC continued to position U.S. wood products as a sustainable solution to address the environmental impact of the built environment. …Our codes and standards teams worked together to secure some important wins in the initial Group A ICC code cycle, including references to the ANSI Fire Design Specification. …As we look to this year, the new Administration means many changes in policy and regulations. We at AWC are prepared to continue to work hard to advance public policies that support market growth and protect the industry from adverse federal legislation and regulation. Our sector tells a truly bipartisan story, and we look forward to a fresh start with new opportunities to promote our industry and all of the good it does for the country.
From laundry detergent to dishwasher tablets, cleaning products are an indispensable part of life. Yet the chemicals that make these products so effective can be difficult to break down or could even trigger ecosystem-altering algal blooms. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Langmuir have addressed those challenges with an environmentally compatible detergent made of tiny wood fibers and corn protein that removes stains on clothes and dishes just as well as commercial products. …The researchers combined cellulose nanofibers from wood with zein protein from corn to create an emulsion. Cellulose can attract and repel water, so it is effective at forming such emulsions and attracting different types of stains. The zein protein, on the other hand, helps stabilize the emulsion and trap oils. 
A draft co-management framework and plan to manage North Cowichan’s 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve likely won’t be presented until sometime in 2026. The municipality and the Quw’utsun Nation (which consists of Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, and Stz’uminus First Nation) agreed in April, 2024, that they would work together to establish a co-management framework and plan for the forest reserve, and that work is still ongoing. North Cowichan’s communications director Barb Floden said the municipality and the Quw’utsun Nation issued a joint request for proposals to support the development of the co-management plan in February, which will be closing soon, and it is expected that the draft framework and plan will be ready next year. “The public will be kept informed of the process through joint statements and updates at council meetings,” Floden said.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed 
A quiet collapse is sweeping through America’s hardwood log export industry, completely devastating working families in rural communities who’ve been left behind as trade battles play out far above their heads. On March 4, China abruptly banned imports of U.S. hardwood logs, citing pest concerns — though industry insiders believe it was thinly veiled economic retaliation to the Trump administration’s recent tariffs. The impact was immediate and massive: China is the dominant buyer of U.S. logs, importing the vast majority of what America exports. Without that market, the entire industry lost its economic lifeline, according to Seth Riggio, a 35-year-old log broker based in Greenville, South Carolina. The move set off a chain reaction that has pushed loggers, exporters, truckers, and rural communities across the country into financial ruin. …These aren’t corporations with reserves. Most loggers don’t have savings accounts or college degrees. What they have are contracts, equipment, and a forest to work. 
Millions of federal dollars promised to Maine woodland to improve harvest practices has been stalled for months without explanation. Landowners and logging companies are increasingly anxious about the funding blockade, and will have to make tough decisions if the money doesn’t come through. Baskahegan Co. Vice President Kyle Burdick said it was banking on federal reimbursements to sustain logging operations on its Down East timberland this year. But if the money doesn’t come through, it will have to potentially lay off logging contractors. Baskahegan was one of six Maine landowners that last year agreed to try out forestry practices that thin out woodlands to encourage bigger tree growth. The pilot project, funded through a $32 million climate smart commodities grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was intended to store more carbon and generate valuable wood products in the future. The funding has been blocked since President Donald Trump put money …under review.
As a log truck driver, I want to share my perspective on the proposed increase in truck weight limits in Alabama. This issue is critical to the livelihoods of many hardworking people and to the… state’s forestry sector. The challenges of operating a log truck have grown significantly in recent years. Insurance premiums keep rising, fuel prices fluctuate unpredictably, and truck maintenance costs have soared due to the increasing price of parts and repairs. Despite these mounting expenses, the rates paid to haul raw wood remain relatively stagnant because of supply and demand constraints. Timber is so plentiful that mills often hit capacity before the end of the workweek, forcing them to impose quotas and stop purchases early. These restrictions directly impact our ability to make a living and keep our businesses afloat. …If weight limits are not raised, the future of Alabama’s log trucking industry — and by extension, the forestry sector — remains uncertain.
BENGALURU/JAKARTA