DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations		$ 2,486	$ 0	$ 707
Shares tendered		0	0	58,813,000
Pulp
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations		$ 2,200
Pretax gain on divestiture		735
Liquid Packaging Board
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations		285
Pretax gain on divestiture		53
NORPAC
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations		42
Cellulose Fibers
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from disposition of discontinued operations		(2,486)
Pretax gain on divestiture		789
Proceeds from divestiture used to repay debt		1,700
Gain on divestiture		546	$ 0	$ 0
WRECO
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture used to repay debt	$ 744
Shares tendered	59,000,000			58,813,151
Price of shares tendered				$ 33.22
Unsecured and unsubordinated senior debt obligations issued by WRECO						$ 900
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	$ 870
Cash on hand	5
Adjustment amount payable pursuant to the terms of the transaction agreement	32
Net cash proceeds	$ 707			$ 707
Gain on divestiture		0	0	972
NORPAC
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					50.00%
Amount received from related party transaction		$ 126	197	$ 195
Payable to related party			$ 46