Vietnam, USTR Talk Timber Harvest and Trade Compliance
The Timber Working Group, a structure established in 2021 instead of tariffs after a Section 301 investigation on Vietnamese trading practices, discussed how Vietnam is keeping confiscated timber out of the commercial supply chain, how Vietnam verifies the legality of domestically harvested timber, and how Vietnam is "working with high-risk source countries to improve customs enforcement at the border and law enforcement collaboration."
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The Office of U.S. Trade Representative said that Assistant USTR for Environment and Natural Resources Kelly Milton also talked to Vietnam about improving its timber legality assurance system during meetings Aug. 22 and 23.
"The United States and Vietnam also discussed relevant technical assistance and capacity building activities, including opportunities to engage third parties and high-risk source countries," an emailed press release from USTR said.
The investigation was launched under the previous USTR and concluded in the Biden administration (see 2110010054). Many stakeholders argued that tariffs were not the right approach to address the use of rare wood in Vietnamese furniture making (see 2011160027). Such wood is not usually part of furniture exported to the U.S.; the Timber Working Group talks mentioned that Vietnam needs to monitor domestically harvested timber, no matter its export destination.