Jon Burns

State House speakers from five Southern states are asking Congress to alleviate pressure on the timber industry by reopening the Asian market. The letter said recent changes in the market, uncertainty in trade policy and regulatory barriers contributed to the closure of mills in the South. Five mills have closed in southern Georgia in recent months. International Paper announced in August that it was closing two mills in Riceboro and two in Savannah at the end of September. Georgia-Pacific closed its paper mill in Cedar Springs at the end of July. …Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns said, “Across the Southeast, this vital industry has been impacted by shifting markets, nontariff barriers to trade and global economic uncertainty.” …”Pushing for the current administration to work towards reopening the Asian market for US logs and chips through ongoing trade negotiations is crucial for increasing demand in the short-term for U.S. forest products,” they said.