Legislation to block wood imports from Russia and Belarus was introduced in Congress April 7 as a way to financially pressure Russia into curbing its war efforts in Ukraine, NBC reported.
Legislation to block wood imports from Russia and Belarus was introduced in Congress April 7 as a way to financially pressure Russia into curbing its war efforts in Ukraine, NBC reported.
The legislation, introduced as the “No Timber From Tyrants Act,” would also seek to ramp up domestic timber production in the U.S. In 2021, the U.S. imported $459 million of wood products from Russia and $52 million from Belarus. Russia is the largest exporter of lumber in the world.
“By immediately banning the import of all Russian timber, we can not only deal a harsh blow to tyranny, but we can also simultaneously boost American industries,” stated Arkansas Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs), a co-sponsor of the bill along with more than 40 House colleagues.
The National Association of Home Builders released a statement in support of the legislation.
“Banning imports of Russian and Belarusian wood products will help to further economically isolate Russia and deny President Putin another source of funding for his unprovoked aggression against Ukraine,” NAHB Chairman Jerry Konter said in a statement. “At the same time, the legislation also calls for responsibly increasing domestic lumber production from federal lands to address the resiliency of our national forests, create jobs, reinvigorate the forest industry and improve housing affordability.”
A ban on wood products from Russia could have major ripple effects for U.S. engineered wood flooring manufacturers, many of whom rely on Baltic birch plywood from Russia for engineered wood flooring cores.
