From There To Here

When Asian economies bottomed out in the late Nineties, affecting prices and supplies of forest products, it brought home sharply the dramatic results that occur when part of the world economy stumbles. Suddenly markets disappeared, prices fluctuated and availabilities dwindled.

While Asian markets are now recovering, threats to American forest products companies in world trade are hardly going away. And what affects U.S. companies in international trade determines prices all the way to Main Street.

A new report by the International Trade Commission says that our companies are facing foreign tariffs that threaten jobs at home and stunt our economic expansion. Additionally, non-tariff barriers, such as local building codes and product standards, certification programs, government interference through quotas, taxes and bans all impede fair trade even where tariffs are low. For example, U.S. tariffs on wood products are at zero or close to it, yet competing countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and China have tariffs from l1Vo to 45Vo. While raw mater- ial tariffs are free or low in most countries, value added products face higher tariffs. On wood panels these range from 5Vo to 2OVo.

According to the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, fact finding federal agency, during 1994-1998, the value of U.S. forest products exports increased by SVo. Exports peaked at $23.3 billion in 1995, then declined 16%o ro $19.5 billion by 1998. Canada, Japan and Mexico were the principal export markets, accounting for just over half of all forest products exports two years ago.

The value of our forest products imports hit $28.6 billion in 1998. a 337o increase over the 1994-1998 period. Canada accounted for over TOVo of 1998 imports. Mexico, China, Brazil and Finland each accounted for about 37o. Government and industry need to work harder to accelerate tariff liberalization and remove non-tariff barriers for forest products. These days, what affects the other side of the world, affects us all.

There are a lot of good reasons for carrying L-P Solid StarP products: wide variety, a limited lifetime warranty and the fact that theybuild great homes.

Full line now available in stock:

LPI' 20 and 32 series l-joists (solid sawn flanged)

. CTR " 1 50 and 250 series l-joists (Gang-Lam' LVL f langed)

. LPI 36 and 56 series l-joists (Gang-Lam LVL flanged)

. Gang-Lam 2650 Fb and 2950 Fb beams in standard and billet thicknesses (1-314" to 7 " thick)

. Solid Start rim board

For more information, including a copy of our warranty, contact Huff Lumber.

In today's highly competitive marketplace things like product placement upon delivery to the jobsite take on new significance. Putting materials exactly where your customer needs them is value added. Doing it efficiently is money in your pocket. That's why you should take a close up look at our new family of PIGGY BACK@ Delivery Systems, specially designed for the building materials industry.

The all-new, rough and ready PIGGY BACK D-50 handles the heavier loads with power to spare. The four-way EZ-3V lets you turn wide loads sideways for travel through narrow passages. The light weight Z2-3 rough terrain machine is at home on a wide variety of delivery applications, including single-axle trucks.

Working in confined areas or over a long distance... on a small truck, Iarge truck or trailer... a PIGGY BACK'Delivery System can dramatically reduce total delivery costs while improving customer service. We've proven it time and again, around the world.

Call or write for the name of your nearest dealer. Terex Princeton, 955 Walnut Street, Canal Winchester, OH 43110. Telephone 800-331-585 1 Fax 614-834-5001.