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Who is importing forest products from Africa to China? An analysis of implications for initiatives to enhance legality and sustainability

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  • Wenbin Huang
  • Andreas Wilkes
  • Xiufang Sun
  • Anne Terheggen

Abstract

Global forest product value chains are increasingly subject to regulatory requirements, such as legality and sustainability certification. For African forest products, a shift in the export destinations of forest products towards China, the leading timber product manufacturer, has raised concerns that social and environmental product and process standards are declining. Aggregate drivers of this shift have been documented, yet there has been little enterprise-level analysis of Chinese actors in African timber imports based in China. This paper provides an initial analysis, highlighting implications for existing and emerging regulatory initiatives. Data show that although an increasing number of Chinese private enterprises is engaged in African timber imports, import volumes remain concentrated among a small number of geographically clustered private and state-owned firms. Government-led schemes are beginning to address timber legality concerns. But given China’s growing domestic market for finished wood products, sustainability certification requirements driven by the US and EU will not be sufficient to ensure improved sourcing by Chinese firms. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Wenbin Huang & Andreas Wilkes & Xiufang Sun & Anne Terheggen, 2013. "Who is importing forest products from Africa to China? An analysis of implications for initiatives to enhance legality and sustainability," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 339-354, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:15:y:2013:i:2:p:339-354
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-012-9413-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Terheggen, Anne, 2010. "The new kid in the forest: the impact of China's resource demand on Gabon's tropical timber value chain," MPRA Paper 37982, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiong, Lichun & Zhao, Hongyu & Wang, Fengting & Cheng, Baodong, 2022. "Genuine performance of China's forest products trade: An evaluation from the perspective of global value chains," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    2. Nathan, Iben & Chen, Jie & Hansen, Christian Pilegaard & Xu, Bin & Li, Yan, 2018. "Facing the complexities of the global timber trade regime: How do Chinese wood enterprises respond to international legality verification requirements, and what are the implications for regime effecti," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 169-180.
    3. Muhammad, Andrew & Jones, Keithly G., 2021. "The end of the trade war? Effects of tariff exclusions on U.S. forest products in China," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    4. Nico Olivier, 2014. "Between Contradiction and Co-operation: An Analysis of China’s Evolving Engagement with Africa," Insight on Africa, , vol. 6(1), pages 15-42, January.
    5. Tao Peng & Hongwei Deng, 2021. "Study on the division of main functional regions based on relative carrying capacity of resources: a case study of Guiyang, southwest China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 9493-9513, June.

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