This is a technical barrier to companies that want to export wood to the . market. Therefore, to make successful wood export to this market, Vietnam needs to analyze influential factors to wood export and effective measures should be taken by both the government and enterprises. This also aims to reduce the country’s trade deficit. | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT No. 207, November 2011 MEASURES TO PROMOTE EXPORT OF WOODEN PRODUCTS TO THE US MARKET by ÑINH THÒ THU OANH * Vietnam has witnessed a substantial ascent in the export of wooden products to the . market during the past few years. The products are considered as of high quality and have good designs, but they fail to meet the . demands for imports. Particularly, in the coming time, Vietnamese enterprises will encounter many difficulties relating to rules of origin and compliance requirements for wood export because the Lacey Act had come into effect. This is a technical barrier to companies that want to export wood to the . market. Therefore, to make successful wood export to this market, Vietnam needs to analyze influential factors to wood export and effective measures should be taken by both the government and enterprises. This also aims to reduce the country’s trade deficit. Keywords: Vietnam’s wood export turnover, supply of wood, the Lacey Act, Vietnamese wood and wooden products 1. Problem In late 2001, the Vietnam – . Bilateral Trade Agreement became effective, opening the door to the . market for Vietnamese enterprises. This made Vietnam one of the 15 largest exporting countries to the . market in 2003, mostly due to its export of wooden product. According to the USITC, Vietnamese wooden products rank 12th in US annual imports with a share of . Specifically, the imported US$744 million worth of Vietnamese wooden products in 2006. This figure rose to US$1 billion in 2010 and US$ billion in 2010, making it Vietnam’s largest export market of wooden products. However, Vietnam still sees a low export turnover of these items from this market. It will face obstacles related to rules about origins and 8 DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND SERVICES IN VIETNAM complicated compliance regulations. The amended Lacey Act – a section of the Farm Bill – was enacted in 2008 and applicable to imports from Vietnam in June 2010. This .
