Here's another article that offers yet another view.
All quotes used here are from
this article.
As for the rosewood and ebony used in the fretboards, here' a quote from this article:
"What’s most puzzling about this case is that India is perfectly happy to ship the fingerboard ‘blanks’ to the United States. In a letter dated July 13,
the deputy director general of foreign trade for India confirmed that “fingerboards made of rosewood and ebony is (sic) freely exportable.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife offered no comment about the discrepancy. But people involved in the import and export of musical instruments and parts believe
the US Department of Justice offered its own interpretation of Indian law. Even though India saw no reason for an enforcement action, the U.S. did."
Now, as for the wood from Madagasgar:
"There was a discrepancy in the import of this latest shipment of wood. It was listed with an improper tariff code, which the importer, Luthiers Mercantile International of Windsor, Calif., claimed was a clerical error by a junior employee and tried to clear up. But
rather than talk to the importer and Gibson about it, the Justice Department dispatched U.S. Fish and Wildlife and DHS agents to raid the Gibson compounds."
So, where's the justice here? Can you say "lynch mob". kiddies?
Now, I know we're supposed to avoid politics in this forum, and I'll respect that, but the author does make an interesting observation in the next to the last paragraph.
