Modeling Japan-South Seas Trade in Forest Products

摘要

The international trade of forest products has generated increasing research interest, including the effects of trade barriers and exchange rates on trade patterns and national welfare. The paper explores these issues for hardwood log, lumber, and plywood trade between Japan and the South Seas nations. Preliminary results suggest that: (1) restrictions on log exports will benefit the South Seas nations only if the nations act together, and (2) relatively small fluctuations in currency influence trade patterns as much as do large changes in tariff levels.