Small-town lumberyard finds US fans for famed Japanese cedar

Trade war raises prices of Chinese products, in boon for century-old company

20200505N Japanese cedar

The U.S.-China trade war has created an opportunity for Japanese cedar exports. (Photo from Hita Lumber Cooperation Association website)

TETSUSHI MATSUO, Nikkei staff writer

OITA, Japan -- A small Japanese lumberyard on the southern island of Kyushu is building a foothold in the U.S. market by carving an opportunity from Washington's trade battles with Beijing and others.

Koichiro Seto, president of Seto Seizai, visited Florida in December to see with his own eyes how cedar wood is used in American construction.

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