USTR Nomination Hearing Sheds Light on Key Trade Issues, SLA Renegotiations - Mar 16, 2017
Very little is clear at this point except for the fact that a new SLA won’t come very soon, and the beginning of new negotiations continues to be delayed until a new USTR is set into office. The recent Senate hearing for U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) nominee, Robert Lighthizer, gave Congress an opportunity to delve into Trump policy.; HR Survey Released: If you participated, you should receive the finished report by Monday, March 20th. Please allow extra time for delivery of the report via postal mail for those participants who do not use email communications.; Brambles Realigns North American Business Units: Publisher soapbox piece explores how new strategy to delayer management could face some significant headwinds to growth in the United States as more and more consumer spending moves online. more...
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Euro Pallet Dilemma: EPAL Ends Exchange Agreement with UIC - Mar 9, 2017
EPAL specifically noted concerns about UIC’s quality assurance and efforts to fight the import of counterfeit UIC/EUR pallets in the European Union.; Profile Offers Softwood Special Report: The aim of the report is to take a very complex situation and make it understandable for lay people who don’t regularly follow the market. more...
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Regulations on the Chopping Block - Mar 3, 2017
While many assume that only the biggest companies face daunting compliance issues, it is also a tremendous issue for independent, small and medium businesses owners.; Axios Declares Bankruptcy: The company is known for its composite pallet equipped with advanced RFID tags and lightweight design.; News Briefs: The U.S. ITC will postpone its preliminary determination in a countervailing duty investigation into Chinese hardwood plywood no later than April 17; Donald Trump’s hiring freeze on federal jobs has reportedly been lifted for the Forest Service; The New York Post ran an article titled “People Can’t Stop Stealing Wooden Pallets.”; President Trump initiated a regulatory freeze to allow the incoming administration to review all new rules. more...
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Amazon Growing in Retail Influence - Feb 24, 2017
Unlike a traditional retailer, Amazon doesn’t really have retail stores. So, the pallets needed to send goods down to retail are not needed in Amazon’s model.; Canada Establishes Softwood Lumber Task Force: This group will share information and analysis to understand potential impacts and assess how to address the needs of affected workers and communities.; 3D Printing Pallets?: Additive manufacturing works by adding layer and layer of material on top of each other to building a particular design. more...
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Brambles Stumbles, 1H 2017 Results Miss Mark - Feb 24, 2017
Brambles stated that its North American pallet operations were impacted by lower sales revenue growth, increased competitive pressure resulting in lower pricing and lower net new business growth in the pooled segment and revenue decline in the recycled pallet operations.; Amazon Growing in Retail Influence: Unlike a traditional retailer, Amazon doesn’t really have retail stores. So, the pallets needed to send goods down to retail are not needed in Amazon’s model.; Recycle Bits: Several recent federal court rulings have dealt setbacks to the trucking industry’s practice of classifying drivers as independent contractors. Exports of southern pine lumber in 2016 reached a record 688 million board feet. FCO, a global leader in reusable packaging and containers, is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in business this year. he New York Post recently ran an article titled “People Can’t Stop Stealing Wooden Pallets.” The American Trucking Associations leadership recently met with Congress to urge swift action with a long-term infrastructure spending package. According to website Safety.BLR, President Trump initiated a regulatory freeze. Employers need to be aware that the deadline period for posting the OSHA Form 300A has arrived.The Reusable Packaging Association has new leadership for 2017.
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Whitehouse Talks, Softwood Duty Issue Continues to Evolve - Feb 16, 2017
President Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week as both discussed trade concerns including the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).; Special Workshop Focuses on Employees and Your Company Mission: During the upcoming National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) Annual Leadership Conference a group of Christian pallet and lumber business leaders are gathering together to hold a workshop. more...
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Duty Threat Causes Market Uncertainty - Feb 10, 2017
Since the WPA meeting, lumber prices in the West have continued to push upward with concerns, as at least one major Canadian player is putting a hold on any major orders after February 27th.; NEWS BRIEFS: Exports of southern pine lumber in 2016 reached a record 688 million board feet. IFCO, a global leader in reusable packaging and containers, is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in business this year. Employers need to be aware that the deadline period for posting the OSHA Form 300A has arrived.; Tom Worthey of Wooden Pallets LTD Passes Away: Tom enjoyed spending time on his ranches in Duval County and Webb County. more...
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OSHA Issues Final Rule on Recordkeeping and New Rules on Electronic Reporting - Feb 3, 2017
The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the court’s decision, ruling that OSHA could not cite an employer for failure to record work-related injuries or illnesses more than six months after the initial obligation to record.; Brambles Downgrades Performance Forecast: The downgraded profit forecast did not affect the Brambles rating by Moody’s, which reaffirmed Brambles Baa1 debt rating with a stable outlook.; Perdue Named to Lead USDA: Donald Trump nominated former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to be the secretary of agriculture. Perdue grew up on a farm and is a veterinarian by training. more...
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Nail Prices Moving Higher - Jan 27, 2017
As of this writing, rod prices are jumping regularly. This may end up forcing nail prices significantly higher this spring.; Renegotiated NAFTA What Does that Mean for the Softwood Dispute?: Trump wants a win with trade. But including lumber into NAFTA may not win him many friends among those fighting for U.S. lumber jobs.; NEWS IN BRIEF: Legal experts are predicting significant changes at the federal OSHA Administration under President Donald Trump. A fire caused some damage to a CHEP facility in Amarillo, Texas recently. more...
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Northwest Pallet Claims Abandonment in PECO Court Cases - Jan 27, 2017
Both companies are suing each other due to a disagreement over how to handle the return of PECO-marked pallets.; Counterfeit Pallets in Europe Remain a Problem for EPAL: There are quality assurance issues which have resulted in serious complaints from users who, when exchanging EPAL Euro pallets, received non-conforming UIC/EUR pallets.; WPA Meeting Roundup: One of the hot topics at the meeting was the current problems in California with suspicious pallet fires. Arson is suspected to be the cause in many instances. more...
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