Reports have emerged in recent days that US President Donald Trump's administration has initiated a new investigation into timber imports. This move could lead to the imposition of additional tariffs on wood and related products, which will significantly affect many countries, including Poland.
The initiative to investigate imported timber is crucial to US national security. The decision covers not only raw wood, but also products made from it, such as furniture, which are exported by various countries, including Poland. The legal basis for this action is the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It is this law that was previously used to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, indicating its repeated use in the context of protecting national interests.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has been given 270 days to complete its investigation into timber imports. During this time, various aspects of the imports that could affect the country's security and trade balance will be analyzed. The investigation reflects the Trump administration's continued desire to protect the US market from the impact of outside competition by restricting imports.
White House adviser Peter Navarro confirmed that the investigation is aimed at countering practices by major lumber exporters and providing better protection for US producers. This will help increase the domestic supply of wood, which is expected to be a key goal of the effort.
Against the backdrop of the U.S. dependence on imported timber, Trump has also made decisions to streamline the permitting process for harvesting timber from public lands and increase recycling of fallen trees. This approach could result in greater self-sufficiency in wood raw materials in the United States.
Many exporting countries, including Poland, could be affected by the Trump administration's decision. Poland is one of the more important suppliers of wood to the US, and the restrictions and additional tariffs could significantly affect trade between the two countries.
Thus, Donald Trump's administration is continuing its aggressive efforts to protect the US market and industry. The new investigation has become one of the elements of pursuing protectionist policies aimed at making the US independent in terms of raw materials and wood products. How these decisions will affect trade relations with countries such as Poland will become clear in the coming months.
