The United States Market for Tropical Hardwoods

Abstract

The United States imports of tropical hardwoods have grown enormously in the past 20 years. This growth can be expected to continue, provided certain factors do not interfere. Among these are: (A) Excessive price increases by supplying countries, such as by SEALPA, which might be compared to that of the OPEC nations in the case of oil. (B) Control of inflation and value of the US dollar. (C) Reduced US duties on hardwood products, which will enable the United States to compete for imported hardwoods with Europe, Japan, and other importing countries. (D) Increased log export restrictions by supplying countries to adversely affect the large hardwood production in Korea and Taiwan which are presently major suppliers to the United States; and growth of the processing of finished products in the log supplying countries to compensate for any loss of production in Korea and Taiwan. (E) Quality improvement and further diversification of hardwood products in supplying countries, which will open up new markets in the United States. (F) Improved communication and cooperation with the exporting countries as well as with other importing countries. The Imported Hardwood Products Association (USA) has recently proposed a new expanded international organization, which is made up of representatives of forest based associations in exporting and importing countries, to work together on various common problems.