A White House order has been issued that mandates an increase in timber production. The executive order, issued Saturday, directs federal agencies, including those under Agriculture, Interior, and Commerce, to do whatever is legally possible to facilitate an expansion of timber harvesting and forest products manufacturing. The order sets a timeline for the completion of specific deregulatory goals. A separate executive order also issued Saturday raises speculation about whether wood products imports are a threat to national security, and orders the Commerce Secretary to investigate that possibility, and whether lumber tariffs should be imposed.
-Steve Gibson