The World of Wood convention, hosted by the International Wood Products Association, is scheduled for April 5-7 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. The 61st annual event, which is expected to draw more than 300 industry professionals, will offer opportunities to interact with speakers and panelists with expertise in regulatory compliance, market intelligence and corporate branding.

IWPA president Bronson Newburger, of Clarke Veneers and Plywood, says shifting political winds could impact growth prospects for the global wood products market in 2017 and that companies ought to keep abreast of market developments that will have a direct impact on profitability.

“World of Wood is the one North American event that brings together leaders from every segment of the global wood products supply chain. The information my staff and I take away each year is critical to our business. As the current IWPA president, I look forward to welcoming attendees from all over the world in beautiful San Francisco,” Newburger says.

Attendees include importers, U.S. manufacturers, exporters, wholesalers, offshore suppliers and service providers to the global wood products industry from nearly 30 countries.

Marc Chandler, global head of currency strategy for financial services firm Brown Brothers Harriman, is scheduled to give the keynote address. He will discuss how the currency trends will impact the global wood products market.

There will also be discussions on a new petition, initiated with the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce, which could result in higher duties on plywood products imported from China.

As part of its pre-convention events, the IWPA will offer a compliance course, “Seeing the Forest and the Trees,” designed to help wood trade professionals establish standard operating procedures to comply with the Lacey Act.

For more, visit www.iwpawood.org.

This article originally appeared in the February 2017 issue.