At present, Chinese companies have been able to absorb the increased tariff levels on imported US timber raw materials but if these are raised further then their businesses will be at risk. To avoid this Chinese companies have started to look for alternative raw material sources and substitutes for US logs and sawnwood.  According to China Customs data imports from the US were mainly softwood logs such as douglas fir, spruce and fir but close examination shows there is no real price advantage over other sources. This is leading importers to look at douglas fir from Canada and ...