Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter on Monday joined four other Southeastern House Speakers in a coordinated push for federal action to stabilize the U.S. forestry market.
In a letter shared Monday morning with Congressional delegations from five states, Ledbetter and the House Speakers of Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina urged “immediate and urgent relief” to address challenges mills, loggers, landowners, and exporters across the South.
“I am proud to work with Senator Britt and my fellow speakers from four Southeastern states to address non-tariff trade barriers impacting our $36 billion forestry industry,” Speaker Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said of the coordinated push.
“President Trump’s America-first approach to international trade has greatly benefited Alabama’s economy, and this issue presents another opportunity to protect jobs and drive growth in one of our state’s most vital industries.”
In the letter, the state lawmakers ask federal leaders to press the European Union to allow mission-critical procedures so that Southern yellow pine chips can reach EU buyers; require a 90-day notice before new tariffs hit; re-open Asian markets that have blocked U.S. logs and chips; and clarify transshipment rules so products made from U.S. woods keep tariff exemptions even if they pass through third countries.
“As Speakers of the House from Southeastern states that together represent a large share of our nation’s forestry production, we respectfully request your support to advance the following priorities that will provide immediate and urgent relief to an industry in crisis,” the leaders write.
Forestry is a backbone industry in Alabama, generating more than $36 billion in annual economic impact and directly employing over 54,000 Alabamians, with a much larger jobs footprint when indirect and induced positions are counted.
Alabama’s forests span about 23 million acres, roughly two-thirds of the state.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
