The Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network, and other environmental groups yesterday announced a vigorous campaign against a proposed zero-tariff agreement on forest products in the World Trade Organization. The greens say that the proposal to eliminate tariffs on paper and wood products would increase consumption of wood in countries that now face high prices and boost harvest levels in wood-exporting nations such as the U.S, jeopardizing forest protections. The U.S. forest industry, on the other hand, has been arguing against tariffs for years, and the U.S Trade Representative’s office backs the zero-tariff proposal. A WTO meeting of top trade officials from around the world will take place in Seattle from Nov. 30-Dec. 3; the environmentalists promised to make themselves a conspicuous presence during the talks.
