EIA Exposes Singapore as Center of Illegal Trade in Timber on Day Free Trade Agreement is Signed with U.S.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2003

The Environmental Investigation Agency, (EIA) a non profit environmental group, today released documentation that Singapore plays a major international role in smuggling of illegally cut timber, undermining an international initiative that President Bush has put at the forefront of his Administration's environmental policy.

EIA revealed that Singapore exported millions of dollars of illegal ramin -- an internationally protected tree species -- to the U.S. without the permits required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in a 10-month period from 2001-2002. In 2001, Indonesia banned the trade in ramin, a highly valued export species, after widespread illegal cutting was detected in four Indonesian National Parks, which are home to highly endangered orangutans.

Undercover video of Singaporean businessmen boasting their methods used to smuggle Ramin into Singapore was obtained by investigators from EIA and Telapak, an Indonesian environmental non profit group, was released at a press conference held today at the National Press Club. Also released was evidence underlining Singapore's continuing role as a hub for international trade in endangered wildlife species and wildlife products, including poached elephant ivory from Africa.

The evidence presented by EIA today demonstrates how the involvement of Singaporean companies, brokers, shippers, agents and individuals in the massive international illegal timber trade is made possible by the Singapore's inadequate laws, which facilitate loose regulatory and customs controls over imported and transhipped products throughout its territory.

The release of this evidence coincided with the signing of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement by President Bush and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

EIA's President, Allan Thornton said today: "President Bush is supporting vital international initiatives against illegal logging to protect endangered forests in Asia and Africa, however, Singapore remains one of the largest distributors of illegally cut timber in the world. President Bush should persuade Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to ban the trade in illegally cut timber and enact meaningful enforcement before the administration and congress finalize the Free Trade Agreement."

The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is the first FTA between the U.S. and an Asian nation. Singapore is in the process of negotiating similar agreements with all other ASEAN nations including China and Japan. EIA fears such agreements will result in more illegally cut timber and other prohibited and sensitive materials being shipped or smuggled throughout Asia and into the U.S.