The trade friction between China and the United States has been on everyone’s mind in 2018, especially Chinese manufacturers which rely on US hardwoods as raw material for their production.  The immediate impact of the trade conflict has been the decision in China to raise import duties on US timber which has pushed up landed costs. Also, Chinese importers complain that Customs clearance is taking much longer than before which results in higher container demurrage which adds to the landed cost.  Driven by rising costs prices for US hardwoods have been rising for example the ...