Alan's and Rebecca's comments remind us of how much has changed since the 1980's when Japan was ascendant and the U.S. dollar was weak. The dollar is now strong, and U.S. housing market is still recovering from the hammering it took in the Great recession. The U.S. Dept. of Commerce prohibits export of state-owned timber, but privately-owned wood can be sold into whatever market provides the highest price for the owner.  That's as it should be.  People and corporations should be free to sell their products wherever they choose - making & exporting things builds wealth.  Government control of markets always produces distortions and inefficiencies.  That's not an argument for no regulation, but it is an argument for the lightest possible regulation.  Clallam timber, both private and state-owned has been "exported" from our County for many decades. Since state-owned wood supplies Clallam mills, the 92 million board feet not harvested has hastened the demise of Clallam mills - no question.