Log exports are a contentious issue.; some politicians, policy analysts and unions have argued for a ban on log exports, whereas the current government has allowed limited exports of logs, but with an excessively complex export-approval process.
Some commentators think that banning log exports would be an economically harmful policy, and have recommended alternatives such as a streamlined export-quota system and a policy of free-trade in logs.
The results clearly indicate that these two policies have much higher net-benefits than banning log exports.
Banning a product from export is also inconsistent with how other goods and service are treated. For example should the government ban exports of salmon and only export prepared, frozen salmon meals and other salmon products? Or should they ban the export of gold and only export jewelry?