Importing Wood to the US: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Preparation of raw materials. The raw materials need to be dried and processed, and the moisture content of the wood should be controlled (usually 8-12%). This will help prevent cracks and deformation of the board.
2. Sanitary treatment. Before importing, the wood must be disinfected and heat treated. This will prevent foreign pests and diseases from entering the United States.
3. Obtaining an import permit. For each batch of wood, it is necessary to obtain an import permit for wood and wood products. Permission can be obtained online.
4. Checking the batch. A personal inspection is usually required at one of the 12 inspection stations located throughout the United States.
5. Documentation. In the customs documentation for each import, it is necessary to indicate the country of origin, the thickness and dimensions of the wood, the presence of bark, the processing status, the type of wood and the condition of the product (painted, varnished or unfinished).

Importing Wood Products to the US: Regulations and Procedures

Several regulatory authorities play a role in overseeing the import of wood and wood products into the USA. Here are some key agencies involved:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): The USDA oversees agricultural imports, including wood products. They enforce regulations to protect U.S. forests and agriculture from pests and diseases.
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): APHIS, a branch of the USDA, is responsible for safeguarding U.S. plant and animal health. They regulate the import of wood products to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases. This includes requiring permits, inspections, and treatments for certain wood products to mitigate the risk of introducing invasive species or diseases.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA regulates the import of wood products treated with pesticides or preservatives to ensure they meet environmental standards and don’t pose risks to human health or the environment. Importers must comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) when importing treated wood products.
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP): CBP enforces import regulations, collects duties and tariffs, and inspects shipments to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. This includes verifying proper documentation, labeling, and compliance with other agencies’ regulations, such as those from APHIS and the EPA.

The requirements for importing wood to the United States depend on its type, size, quantity, and origin. Before buying and importing wooden products, it is recommended to check this information with the US Customs office or with a customs broker.

Sanitizing and Treating Wood for Import

Disinfection and treatment of wood for import are regulated by the international standard ISPM 15 (International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures No. 15). It establishes requirements for the processing and labeling of wooden containers used in international transportation to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

Wood packaging material, specifically pallets or “dunnage,” is frequently made of raw wood that may not have undergone sufficient processing or treatment to remove or kill pests. Therefore, it remains a pathway for the introduction and spread of quarantine pests. It’s often reused, repaired or remanufactured, making its phytosanitary status difficult to determine

For this reason, ISPM 15 is essential for ensuring that wood packaging used in shipping does not become a conduit for harmful organisms that could disrupt ecosystems in different parts of the world.

To obtain an ISPM 15 mark, also known as an IPPC mark, indicating that the wood meets the required standards, the following steps must be followed:

1. Heat Treatment: Ensure that the wood packaging material undergoes heat treatment. The wood is heated in special chambers to an internal temperature of at least 56 ° C for at least 30 minutes.
2. Certification: Use a certified treatment facility that is authorized to perform the treatment and apply the ISPM 15 mark. The facility must follow strict guidelines to ensure the wood is treated effectively.
3. Stamping: Once the wood has been properly treated, it must be stamped with the ISPM 15 mark and conform to the requirements described in Annex 2 of the ISPM 15 guidance. This mark typically includes the IPPC symbol, the country code, a unique treatment facility code and the treatment method code (e.g., HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide fumigation).
4. Documentation: Maintain records of the treatment and certification for verification and compliance purposes. These records may be required during inspections by regulatory authorities.

Document requirements

After processing, the wood is marked with a special sign, which includes:

The IPPC symbol — the logo of the International Organization for Plant Protection.

The country code is the two—letter code of the country where the processing was performed.

The unique processing number is the identification number assigned to the company that processed the products.

The treatment method code is a designation of the type of treatment, for example, HT (Heat Treatment) for heat treatment.

Permits and Licenses

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.

Link source

PPQ Form 621

Application for Protected Plants Permit to Import, Export, or ReExport Protected Terrestrial Plants

Link source

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.

FLEGT licence

A FLEGT licence is a document that confirms that a shipment of timber or timber products has been legally produced, in accordance with the relevant laws of the country of harvest. FLEGT-licensed timber and timber products are considered to comply with the requirements of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

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The EUTR requires that operators (defined as any natural or legal person that places timber or timber products on the EU market) exercise due diligence when placing timber or timber products on the market. Exercising due diligence means undertaking a risk management exercise so as to minimise the risk of placing illegally harvested timber, or timber products containing illegally harvested timber, on the EU market.

FLEGT licences can only be issued by countries that have ratified a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU. To issue FLEGT licences, a VPA partner country must implement a timber legality assurance system and other measures specified in the VPA. When fully operational a timber legality assurance system is both robust and credible, as it includes effective supply chain controls, mechanisms for verifying compliance and is subject to independent audits. A VPA timber legality assurance system is built around a practical definition of legality that has been agreed through participatory processes involving stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society.

Customs Clearance and Duties

Customs clearance of timber imports into the United States is regulated by the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP). The procedure includes checking documents, paying fees, and monitoring compliance with laws.

Document requirements:

• A commercial invoice from the exporter. It indicates the volume and value of the goods, the country of origin, the names and addresses of the seller, buyer and recipient.
• Packing list. It indicates the number of packing places (boxes, pallets), gross and net weight. If wooden crates or pallets are used for packaging, a certificate of wood insect repellent treatment may be required.
• Consolidated Declaration. The importer determines the class of the product according to the Harmonized Tariff (HTSUS) and declares its value.

For cargoes arriving by ocean-going vessels, it is also required to provide CBP with preliminary information about the cargo electronically in the form of an Importer’s Warranty Application. The document must be issued no later than 24 hours before the goods are loaded onto the ship in the country of export.

Customs duties

The rates of customs duties on wood imports to the United States depend on the form of the product (logs, pellets, sawdust, etc.), type (coniferous or non-coniferous), type of wood (cedar, pine, rosewood, etc.) and other factors.

In many cases, wood products can be imported into the United States without paying duties, but importers should take into account that reciprocal tariffs may be added to the total rates.

Some features of customs clearance of wood imports to the USA:

Shipments arriving from countries listed on the CITES list (for example, African teak, Brazilian rosewood) require an import permit from the U.S. Wildlife Service. It is also necessary to provide a certificate indicating the country where the timber was harvested and the absence of violations of laws during harvesting.

Untreated wood from certain regions of Asia (east of 60° east longitude and north of the tropic of Cancer) is prohibited from being imported into the United States.

U.S. Wood Import Tariffs (2025)

(Effective August, 2025)

Links and tips

1. Canada: Total duty combines new 35% tariff (EO 14102) + existing 14.5% AD/CVD. Source: USTR Notice (2025).

2. Softwood Lumber: 4407.10.00 covers spruce/pine/fir (SPF). Other species may vary.

3. Plywood: Mexican imports face 25% under HTS 4412. Source: CBP Bulletin (2025).

4. China: Temporary 30% tariff (down from 145%) expires November 2025. Source: Federal Register Vol. 90, No. 142.

5. Furniture: Additional 10% under Section 301. Requires Lacey Act declaration.

6. EU: Reciprocal tariffs capped at 15% for goods with baseline duties <15%.

7. Oak Veneer: Exempt from reciprocal tariffs due to EPA formaldehyde compliance.

8. Russia: Birch plywood banned under EO 14066 (March 2022).

9. Brazil: 50% = 10% baseline + 40% retaliatory tariff.

10. De Minimis: Suspended globally; no duty-free thresholds apply.

Additional Costs

• ISPM 15 Compliance: No tariff if properly marked (HT/MB). Non-compliant shipments face $500–$1,000 re-export fees.

• Lacey Act Penalties: Up to $250,000 for false declarations.

For HTS-specific queries, use the CBP Tariff Tool. Let me know if you need expanded product lines or historical comparisons!

Wood Packaging Materials and Import Regulations

Wood packaging material (WPM) is an almost invisible but extremely important consideration for your shipping operation. WPM is used to ship goods and safely brace and bear the weight of materials in drums, cases, super sacks, pails and others.

ISPM 15, or International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 15, is a set of guidelines for treating WPM to prevent the spread of pests and disease. It requires that wood packaging be debarked, heat-treated or fumigated to eliminate pests and disease. Wood packaging must be stamped with the ISPM 15 logo to signify that it’s been treated to meet the standard.

Legally Harvested Wood and Import Requirements.

The Lacey Act is a U.S. law that regulates the import, export, and trade of timber and its products. Its goal is to protect the environment by preventing the trade in illegally harvested wood and plants.

Some implications of the Lacey Act for Wood Imports:

• Declaration of origin.
• Prohibition of illegal collection and trade.
• Checking for compliance with the law at customs.

To comply with the Lacey Act when importing wood, companies are advised to:

• Monitor the supply chain.
• Keep proper documentation.
• Use third-party certifications.

Resources for Wood Importers:

• Below is a list of some websites, organizations and companies that may be helpful to wood importers:
• ExportHub. A portal where you can find offers from leading importers and buyers of wood.
• WoodTradePortal. A website with a large selection of wood categories and a database of companies specializing in its sale.
• American Wood Council. Develops engineering data, technologies and standards for structural wood products in the USA.
• APA (The Engineered Wood Association). He is engaged in the creation of products from structural wood through research and collaboration with manufacturers.
• Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS). A non-profit trade association supporting the woodworking industry and furniture suppliers.

FAQ on Importing Wood to the US