US hardwood supply to Europe in the last six to nine months was described by importers as turbulent. According to Judd Johnson, editor of the Hardwood Market Report, quoted in a recent article in the UK Timber Trades Journal, the American hardwood sector entered the pandemic in a ‘diminished state’.  It was hit first by tariffs in the US-China trade war and subsequently a general weakening of Chinese demand when trade relations improved. Mill capacity was then significantly further reduced by Covid absenteeism and what some saw as the government ‘paycheque protection programme’ a disincentive for employees ...