Importing wood to the U.S. is far from a simple process. There are many rules surrounding the import of wood and timber products, and a successful shipment requires strict adherence to permitting and certification requirements.
According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), importers must obtain a PPQ Form 585 permit in order to import logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood products into the U.S. Additionally, if the wood product being imported is regulated under CITES, importers must obtain a PPQ Form 621 permit.
Our guide below provides you with everything you need to know in order to successfully import wood to the U.S.
How to Import Wood, Timber and Lumber
The requirements for wood imports change depending on a variety of factors, like:
- If the wood is finished or unfinished
- If the wood is regulated by CITES
- Country of origin of the wood
We’ll explain all the permitting requirements and list the wood that you are and are not allowed to import into the U.S.
Do I Need a Permit For Wood Imports?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the import of wood products through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS sets the rules and regulations around how to import timber and wood products, including requiring the following permits.
- PPQ Form 585: Application for Permit to Import Timber or Timber Products
- PPQ Form 621: Application for Protected Plants Permit to Import, Export, or ReExport Protected Terrestrial Plants
APHIS works to eliminate foreign pests and diseases from wood and wood products. It requires that unfinished wood imports be heat treated or receive chemical treatments before entering the U.S.
Heat treatment involves processing the wood in a kiln or microwave energy dryer. Chemical treatment involves fumigating the wood with a surface pesticide.
It takes approximately 30 days to receive the permit, so you will need to file in advance. The import permit indicates the type of treatment the wood requires: heat treatment or chemical treatment. You will also likely need a phytosanitary permit to import wood and wood products.
Is an Inspection Required on Wood Imports?
APHIS will also likely need to inspect your imported wood or timber products. APHIS inspection stations are located strategically near major seaports and airports. You can find inspection stations in:
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- Puerto Rico
- Texas
- Washington
At the inspection stations, APHIS agents and specialists examine imported wood and timber to make sure it is free of diseases and pests that could be damaging to U.S. natural resources and agriculture. These specialists also make sure the wood and timber adhere to Federal import permitting requirements and regulations.
It is important to know that wood products with bark imported from China might not be allowed entry in order to prevent the spread of wood-boring insects.
Wood Import Regulations: Are There Special Conditions to Import Wood Products?
According to information from the USDA, all raw softwood lumber should be consigned to a facility with a valid compliance agreement with Plant Protection and Quarantine when the lumber is imported. The lumber and wood products must be heat treated within 30 days of release from the first port of arrival.
The USDA also states that the only softwood logs that are allowed entry into the U.S. are the Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) from New Zealand and Chile, and Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) from Chile.
It’s important to note that some types of wood, like Plywood and OSB, will have some additional requirements that need to be complied with. For example, Plywood from China can be subject to antidumping and countervailing duties.
To learn more, check out our article How to Import OSB and Plywood From China.
It’s also important to note that all unmanufactured wood products from areas in Asia that are east of 60 East Longitude and North of the Tropic of Cancer, are prohibited entry into the U.S.
Do I Need to Fill Out a Declarations Form?
If the wood you are importing comes in the form of trees from either natural or planted forest stands, you will need to fill out a declarations form. This form is very specific, asking for information such as the tree’s scientific name, country of harvest, value, and description. Christmas trees (Douglas & Fraser Firs being the most popular variety) come with a special set of rules.
Learn more by reading our article on how to import Christmas trees.
Can I Import Endangered Wood?
If the wood you are importing is of an endangered species, it will fall under guidelines set by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES-listed types of wood and timber include African Teak, Brazilian Rosewood, among others.
CITES rules also require that:
- You have a certificate that indicates the country where the wood was harvested and that no laws were broken during harvest.
- The certificate was issued by a CITES representative.
- The shipment of imported furniture must arrive at a U.S. port approved to handle CITES-listed species.
Check out our articles on importing teak wood and importing rosewood to learn more!
Importing Finished Wood Products to the USA
Finished wood products, like wood furniture, are commonly imported to the U.S. In fact, in 2021, the U.S. was the largest wood product importer in the world, importing $36.5 billion worth of the goods.
U.S. Wood Product Imports (2021)
| Country | Value of Wood Imports (Billions) |
| Canada | $19.3 |
| China | $3.97 |
| Brazil | $2.16 |
| Germany | $1.31 |
| Chile | $1.2 |
While finished wood products are not subject to the same permitting regulations as lumber and timber, you will still need to follow a few special rules when importing these products. These rules help deter illegal logging and protect the U.S. from invasive species of insects. They also protect U.S. markets.
For example, wood products that have been planed on each side and do not contain any bark do not require a permit to import, nor do they need to undergo any fumigation or heat treatment; but they will be inspected once they arrive in the U.S. You must also fill out a Lacey Act declaration, specifying exactly where all components of the products originated.
Related: Importing Bamboo Products Into US
Additionally, there may also be extra fees associated with importing finished wood products from certain countries. It is important to note that wood furniture imported from China is subject to anti-dumping duties. According to rules set in place by the Tariff Act of 1930, the U.S. government can place tariffs on goods sold at less than market value and “dumped” on U.S. markets.
Furniture imported from China is often less expensive than U.S. manufactured furniture, and that makes anti-dumping rules apply. Wood furniture imported from China is often subject to these extra duties.
Import Duty on Wood Imports to the U.S.
In addition to the permits and forms listed here, one of the most important things you’ll need in order to ship wood products internationally is the correct HTS codes. HTS codes are used for tariff and product classification and provide information on the import duty owed on goods when imported to a specific country.
In the case of wood and wood products, HTS codes can be found under chapter 44 of the HTSUS. You can use our HTS code lookup tool to search for a particular product or a description of the goods.
Here you will be able to find the tariff rate of wood products depending on their form (logs, pellets, sawdust, etc.), type (coniferous or non-coniferous), species (cedar, pine, rosewood, douglas-fir, etc.) and a variety of other factors.
In many cases, wood products can be imported to the U.S. duty-free. But because wood and timber products can take so many forms, the duty rate may vary depending on the exact wood product being imported and where it’s imported from. Additionally, it may be measured in weight, dimensions, or the number of products you’re planning to import.
Once you have your HTS code and all of the proper documentation in place, it’s time to determine how to ship your wood. It’s critical to find a carrier and port of entry that works in order to get your wood imports to their destination as simply and easily as possible.
In addition to Customs clearance, we can help you ship and store your wood no matter where you are in the United States. Fill out our contact form to get started!
Ready to Get Started Importing Wood?
Need more information about importing wood to the USA? Whether you’re a lumber importer or want to import wood furniture, make the process easy and contact the experts at USA Customs Clearance.
Our Licensed Customs Brokers can handle all your wood importing and shipping needs. You will find our value-added customs brokerage services can work seamlessly to provide you with a stress-free importing process. Ready to get started? Schedule a personalized, 1-on-1 consulting session with one of our Licensed Customs Brokers and get the help you need. Still have questions? Give us a call at (855) 912-0406 to learn more.