AJC Photos: Ga. wood industry whipsawed by U.S. trade war with China

Business

Photos: Georgia wood industry whipsawed by U.S. trade war with China

Exports to China have dropped, but many rural woodmen support president on issue.

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Jim Howard stands among several million board feet of stacked lumber at his Cleveland factory. Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Employees stack freshly cut green lumber so it can be kiln dried. Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Lumber is stacked for shipping. Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - An employee sharpens and sets up a molding cutter head for a run of molding. Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Jim Howard shows a molding cutter contour on a handrail sample that is made of glued up pieces of Oak. Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Workers stack glued and finger jointed oak which will be made into handrails. Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - An employee sets up a molding machine for run of molding. Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

November 14, 2019 -Cleveland, GA - A worker marks defects, which will be cut out, in strips of oak that is destined to become handrailing. Jim Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

1/9

November 14, 2019 - Cleveland, GA - Jim Howard stands among several million board feet of stacked lumber at his Cleveland factory. Howard's Atlanta family business of buying and selling hardwood grew since the Great Recession on the strength of exports mostly to China, whose growing middle class wanted red oak floors and white oak furniture. When the trade war resulted in 25% Chinese tariffs on American wood, Howard's growing export business fell from 25% of company income to 8% in a year. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Today's Gallery Headlines

Alerts

PHOTOS: 2025 AJC Photos of the Year

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

PHOTOS: Thomas County Central pummels Gainesville for 5A state title