US, Indonesia Hold Talks On Fighting Illegal SE Asian Logging

[hatrack]

Super - maybe while you're at it, you could do some studies, too!!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States and Indonesia launched negotiations for a landmark agreement that they hoped would help combat illegal logging in Indonesia, which is believed conducted mostly by firms linked to China.

US Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) and Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said after talks in Washington that they aimed to conclude an agreement as soon as possible that would help to tackle the illicit activity in Asia's biggest remaining tropical forests.

"I am pleased to report that the United States and Indonesia are committed to concluding a landmark agreement to combat illegal logging and illegal trade in endangered species," Portman told reporters with Pangestu by his side. "This is a unique opportunity to strengthen our cooperation with Indonesia to better protect Indonesia's parks, forests and sensitive habitats from illegal logging," he said.

If concluded, it would be the first-ever US agreement to facilitate bilateral cooperation to combat illegal logging, Portman said. But he gave no details about how the agreement would achieve that.

EDIT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060404/wl_asia_afp/usindonesiatrade_060404213238

[phantom power]

1. This issue reminds me of the illegal immigrant issue.

How much is our economy propped up by artificially cheap wood from illegal logging? Similar to how our economy is propped up by artificially cheap labor from illegal immigration. I'm for addressing both problems, but I wonder how many people understand the full impact it will have on the price of our goods and services? I probably don't understand it either.