CITES and Lacey act

[peter.coombe]

For those exporting instruments to the USA this will be useful. Depressing but useful. It is pobably the best information available at the moment.

http://www.luth.org/cites.htm

Peter

[Nick]

Thanks for the link Peter, I haven't sold a guitar/instrument to any of our American cousins yet but it wouldn't hurt to read up where we stand before it (hopefully) happens. Will put this link in the "For future reading" folder

[kiwigeo]

For those exporting instruments to the USA this will be useful. Depressing but useful. It is pobably the best information available at the moment.

http://www.luth.org/cites.htm

Peter

One word..."protectionism".

[jeffhigh]

I'm all for this Lacey act shit.........as long as they start applying it for interstate trade too as it is writ.
Then we would see some sparks fly.

[graham mcdonald]

I don't think it is protectionism. It is more the huge mindless juggernaut of the American bureaucracy with some ideologically pure dark-greenie politics at the back of it which has become an incomprehensible minefield of regulation. It may now be just about impossible, in any practical way, for a small builder outside the US to sell an instrument to an individual American customer, especially with the A$ so high as an added disincentive. And if it has an abalone rosette, forget it entirely!

I spent a couple of very interesting days last year in the US with an enthusiastic Tea Party supporter. At the heart of their belief is a basic mistrust of the ability of the US bureaucracy to do anything in an efficient manner. That was just before the congressional elections last year when health care was being much discussed. Imagine Medicare being run like they are implementing the Lacey Act. I suspect no-one would ever get to see a doctor.

sorrowfully

graham

[peter.coombe]

Well I am about to send a mandola with a Paua abalone rosette (is Ablam so comes from the US) to the USA. We are getting the paperwork together. He is trying to get his import/export permit at the moment, but doesn't seem to be able to contact anyone in the bureaucracy by phone. This could take a while, so there is plenty of time to do the finishing touches on the mandola. Will report back on how it goes.

[woodrat]

I don't think it is protectionism. It is more the huge mindless juggernaut of the American bureaucracy with some ideologically pure dark-greenie politics at the back of it which has become an incomprehensible minefield of regulation. It may now be just about impossible, in any practical way, for a small builder outside the US to sell an instrument to an individual American customer, especially with the A$ so high as an added disincentive. And if it has an abalone rosette, forget it entirely!

I spent a couple of very interesting days last year in the US with an enthusiastic Tea Party supporter. At the heart of their belief is a basic mistrust of the ability of the US bureaucracy to do anything in an efficient manner. That was just before the congressional elections last year when health care was being much discussed. Imagine Medicare being run like they are implementing the Lacey Act. I suspect no-one would ever get to see a doctor.

sorrowfully

graham

That is a pretty picture you paint there Graham!...I am glad that I dont live in the Land of the Free!