WA timber industry buffeted by regulations, trade war.

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton

April 3, 2026 at 10:00 am Updated April 3, 2026 at 10:01 am

A recent Seattle Times story captures the pressure facing Washington's timber industry from all sides: tighter access to timber, weak markets, and trade disruption. The article reports that the private sector "feels squeezed" and warns that "plants could close," with real consequences for the rural communities that rely on mills and forest-sector employment.

A recent Seattle Times story captures the strain facing Washington's timber industry from several directions at once: restricted timber access, weak domestic demand, export disruption, and growing uncertainty about future investment. The article reports that the private sector "feels squeezed" by policies limiting access to state trust lands, while University of Washington trade expert Kent Wheiler says, "The U.S. market is depressed" and that the export market "kind of went away."

Hampton Lumber's Kristin Rasmussen argues the problem starts with supply. She says the industry's "single biggest challenge" is the continued restriction of timber supply through policy and management decisions, and warns that local conditions "make it increasingly difficult" to justify major investment in Washington. The story notes that Hampton plans to build its first southern sawmill in South Carolina, underscoring how companies are looking elsewhere for more favorable conditions.

Wheiler points to cumulative pressure rather than any single cause. He says a "combination" of weak U.S. demand, lost export strength, and other constraints is making this "a really tough time" for the forest products industry. He also offers a stark warning about what happens when forest management no longer pencils out: without economic incentive, landowners may convert working forests to other uses.

WFPA's Cindy Mitchell brings the issue back to families, landowners, and rural communities. She asks, "Will the next generation keep tree farming?" and warns that when it becomes "too expensive" or "too hard" to manage timber, landowners begin to look at conversion instead. She also makes clear what mill closures mean outside metro areas: Not so easy to find another job in rural communities.

The article also underscores the stakes for workers and local economies. Rasmussen warns that "Plants could close," and the story points to the permanent closure of NWH's Centralia sawmill, which laid off 70 employees. It closes with a simple reminder from Hampton plant superintendent Tony Gillispie about why this work still matters: "Everybody needs a home."

Read the full article: Seattle Times, "WA timber industry buffeted by regulations, trade war."