Sum. (En, Fr); 7 tab.

Because of a large inventory of high-quality, old-growth timber, the Pacific northwest has been in a unique position to respond to demand for timber in Japan during the past two decades. Competition in the Japanesses market has linked the Pacific northwest also to Southheast Asia, Siberia, and the rest of the Pacific rim. Shifts in the competitive position of Pacific-northwest producers of softwood lumber and plywood in the U.S. domesticy market may lead to increased efforts to sell in Pacific-rim markets. Although demand will continue to grow for pulp and paper in Japan, demand for softwood lumber and plywood may not grow as before. Countries in Southeast Asia that produce tropical hardwood logs may prohibit log exports, and softwood production in Siberai may not increase as in the past. From the standpoint of both demand and supply of timber resources arounda the Pacific rim, the Pacific northwest is at a turning point. Any number of scenarios can be drawndepending upon asssumptions about future interactions of markets around the Pacific rim