Indonesia president vows no retreat during deadly protests
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto vowed to “not retreat even a step” after violent protests over lawmakers’ allowances left at least four pe...
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday directing a new national security investigation into imported lumber under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
The probe, aimed at potentially imposing additional tariffs on imported lumber and its derivative products, comes as part of broader efforts to rebuild U.S. production of the critical commodity.
The order mandates that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick complete the investigation within 270 days. It covers not only raw lumber but also derivative products—such as kitchen cabinets—where U.S.-harvested lumber may be exported and then re-imported. In a related measure, Trump’s order calls for agency heads to implement new steps within 90 days to streamline the permitting process for harvesting timber from public lands and to enhance the salvage of fallen trees, aiming to increase the domestic supply of lumber.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro emphasized that the probe is intended to counteract actions by major lumber exporters, including Canada, Germany, and Brazil, which he accused of “dumping lumber into our markets at the expense of both our economic prosperity and national security.” Any tariffs imposed as a result of the investigation would be added to existing duties, including a combined 14.5% anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariff on Canadian softwood lumber. These tariffs stem from a longstanding U.S.-Canada dispute over Canada’s low stumpage fees on public lands—a practice Washington argues amounts to an unfair subsidy.
The new probe is the third tariff-related investigation ordered by Trump in the past week. It follows his directive earlier this month to launch a Section 232 investigation into copper imports and a separate order reviving investigations into tariffs on goods from countries imposing digital services taxes on U.S. technology companies. Trump has also threatened a 25% general tariff on all Canadian and Mexican goods unless those countries address border security and curb fentanyl trafficking.
A White House official underscored the national security risks posed by an increasing reliance on imported lumber, noting that the U.S. military consumes significant quantities of the commodity for construction projects, even though domestic supplies are ample. Home builders, however, have long criticized existing tariffs for raising lumber prices and contributing to home price inflation.
As the Commerce Department gears up to complete its investigation, industry watchers and policymakers alike will be closely monitoring the potential impact on domestic lumber production and U.S. trade relations with key partners.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Tesla’s European sales have plunged for an eighth straight month, with sharp declines in France, Denmark and Sweden highlighting growing competition, consumer backlash against Elon Musk, and the company’s ageing product line.
YouTube TV and Fox have reached a distribution agreement that will keep Fox News, Fox Sports and other Fox channels available to subscribers, the companies confirmed on Thursday.
The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at record highs on Thursday (28 August), after Nvidia’s quarterly report fell short of investors’ lofty expectations but confirmed that demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure remains strong.
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he intends to convene a summit of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in October, local media reported on Wednesday.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported on Tuesday that G20 countries’ international goods trade rose slightly in the second quarter of 2025, mainly because imports into the United States fell sharply after rising in the first quarter.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment