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3. EXPORT CREDIT PROGRAMS ; 



In addition to the market promotion programs, the wood 

 products industry has used the credits provided under the Export 

 Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) to initiate sales to new 

 markets. As an illustration, the GSM credits have been useful in 

 introducing U.S. wood products in the North Africa region as well 

 as in Mexico. The U.S. wood products industry has worked with 

 the Forest Products Division of FAS to determine those markets 

 eligible for credits that were also target markets for our 

 promotional campaigns. The coordinated efforts of the industry 

 and government have paid dividends for U.S. exporters in sales 

 into new markets. There has been some concern however, about the 

 ability of the wood products industry to fully access the 

 benefits of the program. These concerns are highlighted in 

 Attachment B submitted for the record by the Southern Forest 

 Products Association, a forest industry cooperator and member of 

 AFPA. 



CHANGES IN FAS; 



The forest products industry commends Secretary Espy and 

 these committees' efforts to make the USDA more efficient and 

 responsive to its constituents. Success in some areas has 

 already been achieved with more thorough evaluations and program 



8 



