Wood Pulp Added to Duty-Free List Under New Executive Order

On September 5, President Trump signed a new Executive Order modifying EO 14257 from April. This update expands the list of goods eligible for duty-free import into the U.S., including three wood pulp tariff codes. These changes are part of a broader effort to address the national emergency declared in April related to persistent trade deficits. The White House fact sheet highlights that the updated Annex II now includes products not produced in the U.S. or not produced at scale, such as bleached eucalyptus kraft, a point long advocated by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA).

The Executive Order also introduces a new framework for future trade negotiations. A separate list, Annex III, outlines products that could potentially be added to the duty-free list depending on the outcome of trade talks. Importantly, the EO delegates authority to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce to make additions to the duty-free list, streamlining the process and allowing for more responsive trade policy adjustments moving forward.

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Fibre Box Association is a non-profit trade association representing North American manufacturers of corrugated packaging. The association was founded in 1940 and strives to promote, protect, and enhance the overall well-being of the industry through member-valued programs and services.