What is the
Softwood Export Council?
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About the SEC |
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Aids American Exports of Softwood Products |
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SEC Services and their Benefits |
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Current Softwood Industry Activities |
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ASSOCIATION MEMBERS |
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About the SEC
The SEC is a trade council of U.S. softwood grading agencies, industry trade associations, state export promotional development agencies, and others interested in promotion U.S. softwood internationally. The SEC coordinates overseas market development activities for the U.S. softwood industry with the Foreign Agricultural Service, and aids American exports of softwood products by providing information and assistance to agents, importers, designers, and users of these products in other countries. Through trade association and grading agency members, SEC represents softwood exporters of lumber, veneer, mouldings and millwork and component products.
The Council is built on the
foundation of past softwood export promotions. Through the
cooperative funding with the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service, the
softwood products industry has a unique opportunity to broaden the
scope of wood export marketing. The SEC is an independent
organization governed by a Board of Directors, under a set of
By-laws. International marketing activities are conducted under the
guidelines of the FAS market promotion programs.
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The SEC aids American exports of softwood products by providing:
- Information and assistance to agents, importers, designers and users of U.S. softwood products in other countries
- Market information and trade leads to U.S. softwood product producers
- Market research on emerging softwood products markets
- Trade missions and other forums for international market education
- Coordinate Foreign Market Development and Market Access Promotion strategic plans and funding requests with the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service
- Coordinate overseas market development activities for the U.S. western softwood industry
SEC Services and their Benefits
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
market development programs are designed to assist U.S. agricultural
industries in the promotion and sales of U.S. agricultural products
in international markets. The programs are designed for the generic
promotion of base commodity and value added products. All activities
are conducted outside the U.S. except for Reverse Trade Missions,
and Editors Tours.
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Current softwood industry activities include:
The
SEC maintains an international
staff and offices in Tokyo, London, Madrid, Seoul, Shanghai,
Beijing and Mexico. In-country staff and offices provide the US
industry with direct industry and user contacts in more than 25
countries.
The
Softwood Export Council members participate in numerous trade
shows each year. Trade shows provide direct product promotion,
consumer education, market research and generate trade leads to the
US industry.
SEC
Members have the opportunity to become involved in technical
seminars. such as multi-family design and construction seminars, and
U.S. Species and Grades seminars.
Product
promotion is extended through product press releases and trade show
releases.
Advertising
provides in-country exposure on product use, availability, species
and products.
Technical
literature and other publications
are available on softwood lumber grades, softwood species books,
interior design, wood moulding and millwork and buyers information.
Reverse
Trade Missions to the U.S. are conducted on specific products and
its uses and provide direct buyer contacts.
Magazine
and newspaper editor educational tours provide general US products
PR, members products and companies featured in the article generated
by the Press Tours.
In-country
Trade Servicing and In-country technical support
Market
research and development benefits future market opportunities with
U.S. industry intelligence.
Cross-industry
activities of U.S. Forest Products cooperators.
- Trade shows in China & Europe w/APA, AHEC, and AF&PA
- Japan Housing Conference with AFPA, APA, and AHEC
- Japan Lumber Importers Meetings and Building Experts Committee
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©
1998-2007 Softwood Export
Council (SEC)
520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 810 Portland, Oregon 97204-1514
USA
Telephone: 1-503-248-0406 Fax: 1-503-248-0399 Email
at: info@softwood.org