§ 2112. Cooperative national forest products marketing program

(a) Findings and purposes

(1) Findings Congress finds that—

(A) the health and vitality of the domestic forest products industry is important to the well-being of the economy of the United States;

(B) the domestic forest products industry has a significant potential for expansion in both domestic and foreign markets;

(C) many small-sized to medium-sized forest products firms lack the tools that would enable them to meet the increasing challenge of foreign competition in domestic and foreign markets; and

(D) a new cooperative forest products marketing program will improve the competitiveness of the United States forest products industry.

(2) Purposes The purposes of this section are to—

(A) provide direct technical assistance to the United States forest products industry to improve marketing activities;

(B) provide cost-share grants to States to support State and regional forest products marketing programs; and

(C) target assistance to small-sized and medium-sized producers of solid wood and processed wood products, including pulp.

(b) Program authority

(1) In general The Secretary shall establish a cooperative national forest products marketing program under this chapter that provides—

(A) technical assistance to States, landowners, and small-sized to medium-sized forest products firms on ways to improve domestic and foreign markets for forest products; and

(B) grants of financial assistance with matching requirements to the States to assist in State and regional forest products marketing efforts targeted to aid small-sized to medium-sized forest products firms and private, nonindustrial forest landowners.

(2) Interstate cooperative agreements

Grant agreements shall encourage the establishment of interstate cooperative agreements by the States for the purpose of promoting the development of domestic and foreign markets for forest products.

(c) Limitations

(1) Cooperation with other Federal agencies

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall cooperate with Federal departments and agencies to avoid the duplication of efforts and to increase program efficiency.

(2) Domestic program

The program authorized under this section shall be carried out within the United States and not be extended to Department of Agriculture activities in foreign countries.

(d) Authorization for appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1988 through 1991, to carry out this section.

(e) Program report

The Secretary shall report to Congress annually on the activities taken under the marketing program established under this section. A final report including recommendations for program changes and the need and desirability of the reauthorization of this authority, and required levels of funding, shall be submitted to Congress not later than September 30, 1990.

(Pub. L. 95–313, § 18, formerly § 15, as added Pub. L. 100–418, title IV, § 4403, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1400; renumbered § 18, Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, § 1215(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3525.)

Miscellaneous

International Forest Products Trade Institute

Section 1247 of Pub. L. 101–624, as amended by Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1018(c), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1905, provided that:

“(a)Establishment.—The Secretary of Agriculture may establish an International Forest Products Trade Institute (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Institute’).

“(b)Mission.—The mission of the Institute will be to increase the competitive position of the forest industries of the northeastern United States as major producers of international forest products in order to increase domestic employment and stimulate rural development, and to provide a knowledgeable, objective analysis of global forest resource problems.

“(c)Functions.—The Institute shall—

“(1) emphasize the application of existing knowledge to the manufacturing and international marketing of forest products as well as conduct new research related to the competitiveness of the northeastern forest products industry;

“(2) study and evaluate domestic and international forest, forest sector, agroforestry, development, economic, and trade policies;

“(3) design, analyze and test technologically appropriate manufacturing, processing and marketing systems which are supportive of and consistent with forest policy and management strategies formulated by the Institute and which enhance opportunities for markets in forest products; and

“(4) formulate and test management strategies for—

“(A) United States forests, and

“(B) manufacturing facilities that promote ecologically sustainable use, and long-term management, of international forests.

“(d)Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.”