The role of the lmported Hardwood Products Association

LlOW AT HOME in beautiful new I ! international headquarters in Alexandria, Va., the Imported Hardwood Products Association is looking forward to celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1981.

An international trade association with membership composed of United States companies engiged in import- ing lumber, plywood-, ieneers, fiooring and other hardwood conversions. the association provides diversified services to its members. Membership also includes allied industries such as steamship companies. port authorities, banks, and law firms with an international interest, as well as ov.erseas companies who are sup- pliers to th.e industry and foreign export associations.

In services provided to the industry, IHPA's work in customs ranks !igh. tt was involved in drafring the Customs Procedural Reform Act of 1978 and active in lobbying to mov-e the bill through Congress and to the President to be signed into law. With the passage of this law, a number of archaic customs regulations and procedures were elimii'ated.

The association also was active in the development of a new Customs Valuation Code which allows assessment of duties on the basis of transaction value rather than value of the cargo on the date of shipment. This change is expected to reiult in savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the industry.

The association his interceded for members having problems with the United States C-usioms. Better communication and understandine of the custom requirements have eliminated many problems.

IHPA took an active role in the recently complete negotiations for reduction and elimination of duty on a number of industry items. Dutv on plywood paneling lShorea species; is being reduced from 2OVo to 8Vo between now and 1984 with nonShorea species being reduced from lj%o to 8Vo at the sime time. With the collapse of both species into one duty category, classification prob- lems in customs also will be eliminated.

Duty on prefinished paneling will drop from 2OVo to 8Vo over the next seven years. In addition, IHPA was successful in lobbying against the domestic industry efoits io exclude thick plywood fiom the duty reduction schedule.

Story at a Glance

IHPA works for customs, duty improvements . . . promotes good relationships with sup- pliers . . . is a watchdog of governmental regulations.

Asian Plywood Manufacturers Conference in Indonesia. The association maintains a formal aqreement of understanding and coiperation between the wood industry export associations of Indonesia and the United States.

With increased prices, timber shortages, and ever-increasing fuel costs and freight rates, the association has begun to seek other sources ofsupply. They sponsored a BrazilianAmerican Trade Conference in Washington, D.C. and are planning a study mission into regions of Brazil where timber opportunities exist. Representatives also are working with lumber interests in Ghana and Chile.

The association promotes a close relationship with foreign suppliers. For the past two years, president (Dave Gentry and Pat Bennett) and executive v.p. Keister Evans have appeared officially at the Southeast Asia Lumber Producers Association's semi-annual meetings. In 1979 Gentry and Evans addressed the Sixth

They are negotiating with the Thai Timbdr Expoiters Aisociation and the Government of Thailand toward the relaxation of the existing embargo on teak. In the meantime, they are aiding members in finding alternative sources in Burma, Indonesia and other Asian countries.

Tackling the problem of the inconsistency of dockside inspectors employed by the U.S. Agricultural Plant Health Inspection Service, the association has met with top APHIS officials in Washington. The resulting rapport has been helpful in solving problems of unfair or irregular inspection orders.

Other lumber related problems undertaken by the association include defeating a New Jersey grading stamp law which would have resulted in defacing lumber intended for decorative products.

MODERlllSTlC loqo of the lmoorted Hardwood Products- Association ii symbolic of the forward thinkino oroanlzation which will celebrate its 25th a-nniversary in 1981.

The association has been instrumental in impressing overseas suppliers with the importance of adhering to U.S. industry quality standards. In addition to organizing meetings and a plywood quality tour to the United States, they, in cooDeration with the Hardwood Plywood Manufacturers Association, have distributed quality reports to all overseas manufacturins mills.

Currently, -they are working on the revision and updating of purchase

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