Reflect On Liberalization Of International Trade From The Perspective Of Trade In Forest Products

In a time of globalization, the idea of"Trade Liberalism"is well recognized. Developed countries can get resources which they are lack of through trade, and developing countries can at the mean time gain their growth in economy.While, the side effects of developing with no concern of things like environment happen time and time again. Recently, the damaging drought in southwest China has drawn our attention to the development policy in that area. Some reports reveal that, it is the introduction of Fast-growing Eucalyptus forest into this area which makes the groundwater been absorbed to an uncontrollable extent. The introduction of this kind of forest was meant for exportation.In the worldwide, deforestation is growing worse and worse. It is publicly believed that, illegal logging makes huge contribution to this trend. The increasing demand in international forest products, as well as the lack of legislation and enforcement of environmental policies in exporting countries, induces the demand in illegal logging woods."Lacey Act"comes out of the concern in fighting against illegal logging and cutting this trend in the consumption chain.Starting from this point, in the first Chapter, I make an investigation in the global wood-product market, especially the connection with illegal logging. In this part, I focus on the U.S. which is the largest consumption country of wood-product, and China which is the largest producing country. From many statistics, I try to convey the idea of stimulation effect of world wood-product for illegal logging.Then, I turn to"Lacey Act"in the second Chapter. As a law with more than 100-year's history, the 2008 amendment expand its coverage to plant product, especially wood product. This act forbids the importation of wood product with no certification of legal source, and grants civil and criminal penalty to such importation. This act makes the U.S. the first country in the world forbidding trade of illegal logging related product in total. Although we must confirm that it is a good thing that the U.S. wants to make some efforts in fighting against illegal logging, this act cannot avoid the suspect of using as a trade protection mechanism.It is most practical discussing"Lacey Act"under WTO and free trade system, but this cannot reach the most extent. In a world which is dominated by developed countries, developing countries are in the passive position. In the third Chapter, I first explore the reason why the U.S. is dominating the world economy system. Then I discuss the legality of using domestic law regulating world trade activity and behavior in other jurisdictions. In the end, I turn to the relationship of"Free Trade"and developing countries, in which I find that"Trade Liberalism"treats developing countries unfairly most of times. Although the trend of globalization is an objective development of the history, speaking in standpoint of developing countries are nonetheless truly necessary.