A surprise announcement from US President Donald Trump has left producers of high-quality timber on tenterhooks waiting for news on tariffs.
Wood products exported to the United States had remained at zero per cent while a special investigation was carried out aimed at determining the effects the global imports had on the local supply chain.
The outcome had been expected in December, but a week ago, the President announced a new investigation with results to be delivered in under two months.
The change is causing nervousness across New Zealand wood processors and manufacturers who export over $370m of value-added wood product to the United States a year.
A huge jump in tariffs could see exporters withdraw from the market and a new set of mills come under pressure.
The sector has already experienced significant job losses due to the shutdown of pulp and paper mills and the consolidation of mills processing mainly construction-grade timber.
Mark Ross is the chief executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ.
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