Since much of the increased activity occurs in North American rather than Asia, the ATL program does not present any significant threat to the unmanaged forests of Asia. Results of the analysis were published in a report by the USTR for the WTO meeting in Seattle. In general, policies to manage emissions lead to alternative climate and economic responses. Alternative climates affect the forest sector through changes in timber availability. The responses of the forest sector in the hardwood sector are smaller than the responses observed for the softwood sector.
Economic factors exert a significant influence over the response of the forest sector.
Regions with the lowest wood fiber production costs expand market shares at the expense of higher cost regions, irrespective of timber inventory gains associated with climatic factors. While the global economy experiences gains in consumption and lower product prices, trade in forest products produces different economic responses across the globe. In general, timber owners lose revenues and consumers gain welfare due to climate change. A journal article of the findings has been submitted for peer review. Timber inventory data for Chile, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and China is being collected to analyze the competitive position these countries may develop with respect to the US South.