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President Trump has threatened to impose larger tariffs on the European Union and Canada if they team up against the US, as an escalating trade war with the two allies continues. Source: The Hill “If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, large scale tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both in order to protect the best friend that each of those two countries has ever had!” Trump wrote on Truth Social early Thursday morning. The threat comes after Trump announced that he will impose a 25 percent tariff on foreign-made vehicle imports, which will hit countries like Germany particularly hard. European automakers criticized the move, arguing it will hurt US manufacturing while the nations are already impacted by Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs on trading partners. The president has also teased reciprocal tariffs set to take effect 2 April, which the president has called “liberation day”, which will hit trading partners with the same tariffs they levy on the US. Earlier this month, Trump announced broad tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and a one-month delay for auto parts covered under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which is set to expire next week.

Built by Nature has launched its 2025 global prize called the Built by Nature Prize, recognising exemplary real-world applications of the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction in predominantly timber buildings. Source: Timberbiz On 7 April, the grant-funding network will open applications for completed and in-use projects, including new builds, renovations, and the significant prize will highlight excellence in demonstration of the Principles, with winners announced at the annual Built by Nature Summit in October. Winning buildings will be showcased at high-profile events and a documentary film premiered at COP, included in an international study tour, and presented as examples of responsible timber construction on the Built by Nature Knowledge Hub. A panel of international experts from across the construction value chain will judge submissions based on alignment with the Principles. Developed by Built by Nature and in collaboration with the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP), Bauhaus Earth and other stakeholders, the Principles establish a common framework of requirements to ensure the timber building industry can thrive sustainably. Promoting and leveraging projects that exemplify the Principles, the Prize campaign demonstrates to policymakers and the construction industry the relationship between responsible timber construction and positive outcomes for forests, biodiversity, climate, and communities across the globe. “We are proud to launch our 2025 Prize to recognise the best timber construction projects from around the world. Entrants will be asked to show how their projects align with the Principles for Responsible Timber Construction, using existing project information. The sector is already delivering great timber buildings, now it’s time to celebrate success and accelerate its replication,” Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature said. Prize judge Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Global Leader of Climate & Energy at WWF and Interim Chair of the IUCN Climate Crisis Commission said that the Principles provide consensus-based guidance for policymakers and governments, to inform regulation and support incentives for investment. They can, and should, become the global standard for timber buildings, framed under sustainability rules. The judging panel also sees a return for Ana Belizário, Sales and Business Development Director of Brazilian mass timber manufacturer Urbem, who judged the first BbN Prize in 2024. “COP30, in my native Brazil, is a huge moment for timber buildings. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, an Amazon COP must focus on timber supply chains so we can build more effectively for people, planet, and nature. This Prize will showcase the very best examples to the world,” she said. The Prize is open to all timber-based buildings that align with the Principles, with the application window opening on 7 April. English is the preferred language for applications, with translation provided if required on request. Full details of the application criteria and process can be found on the Built by Nature website. https://builtbn.org/prize/