Why It Matters

The American Forest & Paper’ Association faces industry distress with accelerated mill closures. Containerboard producers are shutting down approximately 9.5% of North American capacity in 2025 alone. The AF&PA’s lobbying targets policies that directly affect operating costs and market access:

  • Trade policy: The EU’s deforestation regulation threatens $3.5 billion in U.S. exports, while tariffs on Canadian pulp and lumber exceed 45 percent
  • Clean Air Act permitting: Recent EPA tightening of particulate matter standards has triggered industry warnings of $162 billion to $197 billion in economic losses
  • Federal payments: Congressional action to eliminate paper checks would reduce demand for U.S. pulp and paper products
  • Biomass energy: New BECCS legislation and active forest management bills create opportunities to expand biomass markets

By the Numbers

The American Forest & Paper Association has maintained consistent lobbying presence since 2003, spending over $76 million across two decades. For Q3 2025, the organization reported $580,000 in in-house lobbying expenditures.

The AF&PA’s lobbying team consists of four registered lobbyists. Julie Fields Landry has served as the organization’s lead lobbyist since January 2012, accumulating over $31.9 million in AF&PA-related work. Landry brings approximately 3.5 years of Republican congressional experience, including a role as Special Assistant for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. David Joseph Ross joined in July 2022 and served nearly six years in the House as Legislative Assistant for Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL-13). Elizabeth Olds began representing AF&PA in January 2024, while Clara Altieri-Cozort joined most recently in April 2025.

The Agenda

The American Forest & Paper Association focused its Q3 2025 efforts on environmental regulation, international trade, postal reform, and forestry management. Key areas include:

Between The Lines

Congressional activity on several AF&PA priorities is heating up. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on Clean Air Act impacts where AF&PA testified. The Arkansas Congressional delegation sent a letter calling the EU Deforestation Regulation "unworkable." Senator Susan Collins has raised concerns about tariffs threatening integrated supply chains. Bipartisan lawmakers, including Senator Angus King, urged Treasury to delay eliminating paper checks, explicitly citing industry support.

Competitive Landscape

The AF&PA coordinates with other industry players on overlapping issues. Sylvamo North America LLC lobbied on trade and tariff issues in Q3 2025, while International Paper Co. focused on recycling legislation including the STEWARD Act. This alignment creates a unified industry front on environmental regulation, trade policy, and energy standards.

The Bottom Line

The American Forest & Paper Association is spending $580,000 this quarter addressing urgent industry pressures. The sector faces tariffs exceeding 45 percent on Canadian softwood, tightened EPA standards, and mill closures reducing capacity by nearly 10 percent. While bipartisan support exists on several issues, the AF&PA operates amid structural industry decline, suggesting lobbying outcomes will compete against broader economic headwinds.