Forest endowment, logging restrictions, and Chinaʹs wood products trade

This paper uses the gravity model to investigate determinants of Chinaʹs wood products trade from 1995 to 2004. The results suggest that trade partnersʹ forest resource endowment and Chinaʹs own logging restrictions policy affect its wood products imports and exports. Chinaʹs exported wood products are shown to be inferior goods while Chinaʹs imported wood products are labor intensive for the exporting countries. Due to rises in Chinese currency against other major currency, transportation costs, and foreign trade actions, Chinaʹs wood products exports and imports may slow down. The results may have implications on trade and global forest resource conservation.