Will it be catastrophic? I don't think so. But, I think we're not going to see as much production or consumption this year as we experienced in 2018.”
In terms of Trump policy and tariffs with China, the impact has been felt most in the South and by hardwood producers.
So while domestic markets for Western lumber buyers seem likely to be less volatile in 2019, the President still generates some level of concern with respect to lumber markets. “The big thing with Trump is that he creates so much uncertainty,” one contact told Brindley off the record. “No one really knows what he's going to do next. If you’re a sawmill or a seller or buyer of forest products, you aren’t sure how agreements are going to change or policy that could affect exchange rates.”
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JANUARY 2019