Exporting in a Shifting Legal Landscape

ShareThisGFTN's guide to legal exports, Exporting in a Shifting Legal Landscape, is aimed at companies that currently export, or intend to export, forest products to the US market. It is designed to allow companies to assess their own performance and offers advice on how they can meet the needs of their customers in the US—who are required to know that the forest products they import have been legally harvested and traded.  The guide is also of benefit to forest service, customs officers and other governmental officials who serve as enforcement officers in the national forest law and related legislation that apply to all stages of the supply chain from harvest to export and import.  The guide also makes reference to developments within the European market, particularly the markets of the European Union countries, where many of the ideas suggested within this manual will also be of relevance in the future. This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade (RAFT) program, as well as with support from the European Commission. The contents are the responsibility of WWF and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, or the United States government or the European Commission.  USAID RAFT PROGRAM  The Asia Pacific region, home to half the planet’s population, is the largest producer and processor of tropical timber in the world. The region faces growing international demand for timber and non-timber forest products. This demand is projected to increase in the coming years putting greater pressure on natural forests exacerbating the negative social and environmental impacts. The RAFT Program, launched by The Nature Conservancy and a diverse group of implementing partners with the support of the US Agency for International Development Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID RDMA) presents a comprehensive response to persistent deforestation and forest degradation in the region.