Business Impact

The health of the U.S. paper and wood products industry depends on strong export markets. 

Paper and wood products exports account for about 10% of the industry’s annual total sales. And our exports support an estimated 91,000 direct jobs. 

We need to move raw and recycled materials across borders to manufacture our products. This helps maintain a level playing field for our industry. 

AF&PA supports free and fair trade policies and practices. We are also a strong supporter of efforts to reduce illegal logging around the world. 

We look forward to working with the Administration, Congress and other policymakers to continue to advance and grow our industry.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is a vital service relied upon by many across the country. The mail system delivers approximately 39%, or nearly $6.5 billion worth of paper-based communication produced in the U.S. In 2020, the USPS also delivered 7.3 billion of packages that contain paper-based packaging materials. 

The USPS implemented cost-cutting measures to help make it financially viable. But without help from policymakers, it might not stay a competitive choice for mail delivery.

AF&PA supports reform measures that allow the USPS to continue serving its mission. We support policies that allow the USPS to meet the service needs of customers, and postal rates that are predictable and affordable to mailers. 

We look forward to working with policymakers to maintain this essential service.

Having a low corporate tax rate helps the industry invest back into U.S. manufacturing and its global supply chain.

We invest a lot in our mills to upgrade machinery and systems to ensure we're responsible and modern manufacturers.

In 2020, we spent $13 billion on new plants, equipment and facility upgrades.

We support policies that bring us in line with global norms and help make our industry more competitive. This allows us to invest at home to continue growing our industry and create manufacturing jobs.

More than 75% of U.S. pulp and paper mills are in counties designated by the Census Bureau as more than 80% rural. The timely and cost-effective movement of products to and from these communities is essential to our industry.

We use our nation’s highways, railroads and ports to move our products. Maintaining our infrastructure is crucial to the health of our industry.

AF&PA encourages necessary infrastructure enhancements. This includes policies that promote efficiency, safety and shippers’ concerns within rail, maritime and highway freight transportation. That’s why AF&PA supports sensible reforms that would both increase access to competitive freight rail service and modernize the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Specifically, we support proposals that provide more freight rail options and maximize the efficiency of the existing rail network. These include reinstating the STB’s authority over forest products industry shipments (known as a commodity exemption) and changes to how shippers can choose between competing railroads (known as reciprocal switching).