ABSTRACT
This chapter draws upon the various analyses in order to assess each trade policy option. The policy options are grouped into three main categories: do nothing, take measures to alter the pattern of tropical timber trade; and take measures to raise revenues for sustainable forest management. The use of quantitative restrictions to regulate the trade in tropical timber products can suffer many of the same problems associated with complete and selective trade bans. A tropical timber trade tax would in any case probably be ineffective in reducing timber-related tropical deforestation – for the same reasons in the discussion of trade bans. Unlike a tax, a trade subsidy essentially reduces the costs associated with the trade and encourages higher levels of trade in tropical timber products. The chapter also presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book.
