Tariffs could disrupt essential pulp supply, drive up costs, and jeopardize rural American jobs amid investigation into Brazil’s trade and deforestation practices, according to AF&PA.
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) is calling on the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to exempt Brazilian bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp (HTS code: 4703.29) from potential Section 301 tariffs, warning that the material is indispensable to the U.S. tissue industry and cannot be purchased domestically at commercial scale. The group submitted its comments as part of USTR’s ongoing investigation into Brazil’s trade practices.
On September 3, USTR will hold a public hearing to gather further testimony on these issues and assess how Brazilian laws may be restricting fair market access for American firms.
AF&PA’s urges that eucalyptus production is extremely limited, with viable growing areas confined to small regions in coastal California and Hawaii, which cannot meet industrial-scale demand.
The association holds that imposing tariffs on Brazilian pulp would harm U.S. manufacturers by raising input costs, reducing profitability, and undermining the competitiveness of American-made tissue products.
