Monday Answers
Dale gets a star for his response of Iran.
1. Iran
2. Iran cannot import lumber with bark (mostly for biologic reasons) but they are recently allowing fumigated wood to enter, with the strictest of control. Still, the Iranian conservatives believe that since they have the revenue ($852 billion) paying for finished product is much easier and less risky than dealing with irreversable infestations of insects, mold, and the like. �The importation of logs with bark is banned under a law introduced by National Plant Protection Organization as a means to prevent entry of plant pests. A general ban on the importation of wood chips is waived if decontamination or other phytosanitary measures can be documented.� (source--Goliath�Wood Products Industry In Iran)
3. Russia (and Azerbaijan) and China. Russia seeks the military and commercial alliance in the south with access to over 1500 miles of ice free ports and the Strait of Hormuz. China wants oil and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), and an alliance with a possible (nuclear) adversary. (From CIA World Factbook) In 2001, Iran-China trade volume stood at $US 3.3 billion, and in 2005, the volume of Iran-China trade hit $US 9.2 billion. China currently holds the second rank among top exporters to Iran (2005) with 8.3% of the total market, after top ranked Germany. China's exports to Iran have particularly seen a rapid growth rate in the past five years, replacing Japan, which held second place. Iran's imports from China rose by 360% between 2000 and 2005. (The Cost of Economic Sanctions on Major Exporters to Iran , Nader Habibi, 2005) Aside from China's less expensive products, Iran is also buying more from China for strategic reasons-including tooling, heavy manufacturing equipment, vehicles, various metals.
My questions started on wood trivia but even basic research leads to something much more "big picture" important than wood imports to think on.
