H.R. 8580: Forestry Protection Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Forestry Protection Act of 2026, aims to encourage the use of domestically sourced raw wood materials by modifying import duties on forestry products. Here’s a summary of its key points:

1. Duty Reduction for Domestic Products

The main purpose of the bill is to reduce import duties and restrictions on finished forestry products by 50% if the importer can prove that the products are made entirely from raw wood material sourced from the United States. This applies to various types of finished forestry products that fall under specific classification codes in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

2. Regulations and Verification

The bill mandates that within 90 days of its enactment, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in collaboration with the United States Trade Representative, must develop regulations to put this duty reduction into effect. These regulations will include guidelines for verifying the U.S. origin of the raw wood used in these products, as well as measures to prevent fraud.

3. Definition of Terms

Key definitions in the bill include:

• Covered Import Restriction: Any fee aside from a duty that must be paid by an importer.
• Covered Trade Law: Refers to established trade laws under which these duties and restrictions may be applied or modified.
• Finished Forestry Product: Products made from raw wood material but manufactured outside the U.S. and classified under specific subheadings.
• Raw Wood Material: Unprocessed wood that has only been sawed, chipped, or dried.

4. Notification and Comment Requirements

Additionally, the bill proposes that any imposition or modification of duties or import restrictions related to finished forestry products must be publicly notified in the Federal Register at least 90 days before taking effect. This notification must include:

• The rate or amount of the duty being imposed or modified.
• A description of the applicable covered trade law.
• A list of the affected finished forestry products and their corresponding classification codes.
• The rationale for imposing or modifying the duties or restrictions.
• The proposed effective date for these changes.

It is also required that a public comment period of no less than 60 days is provided where individuals and businesses can submit their input regarding these changes.

5. Impact on Trade Laws

The bill modifies existing trade laws by adding provisions that increase transparency regarding how duties and restrictions are imposed on finished forestry products. These changes aim to enhance the process by which importers can demonstrate compliance and benefit from reduced tariffs.

Relevant Companies

• LPX - Louisiana-Pacific Corporation: A manufacturer of engineered wood products that may benefit from reduced tariffs on domestically sourced raw materials.
• NF - Northwest Nonferrous International: This company is involved in forestry and wood product exports and may be impacted by changes in import duty structures.