The European Union is pushing back against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum by imposing its own tariffs on American wood products, including those exported from Alabama.

Forestry and agriculture leaders say there is still uncertainty about how these tariffs will affect the industry.

In the short term, they could cause disruptions, while long-term effects may include a decline in the volume of wood products exported to Europe.

For Alabama’s forestry and wood product industries, stability is crucial.

But with the EU’s tariffs looming, that stability is now in question.

“Business owners and forest products companies are no different. They like and they need certainty,” said Chris Isaacson, president and CEO of the Alabama Forestry Association.

While it’s unclear whether these tariffs will significantly alter the market or raise costs, industry leaders are concerned about a slowdown in production and exports.

“The volume of lumber, the volume of paper, those may be throttled back due to the tariffs,” Isaacson said. “Some reshuffling of where those products wind up.”

If the tariffs remain in place, companies may need to rethink their strategies for reaching international markets.

“I think, from my perspective and probably most of the industry’s perspective, we’re just sitting back to see how this all plays out,” Isaacson added.

Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate acknowledged that while the industry could face short-term struggles, it has a history of adapting.

“Agriculture knows there’s going to be some short-term pain here, but we think it’ll reset in a healthier way for American agriculture,” Pate said.

During his last term, President Donald Trump provided financial assistance to industries impacted by tariffs.

If history repeats itself, similar aid could be on the table for affected businesses.

For now, industry leaders remain hopeful that the disruption will be temporary and that Alabama’s wood products sector will recover.

Source: wbrc.com