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Germanicus
Nomad
Posts: 214
Registered: 6-13-2004
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Wood Import
Hi folks,
here comes your favorite question-guy with another - I hope not too silly - question.
I was scrolling through the 'picture gallery' and saw one pic which showed a big sign and I could read that no wood is allowed to import into Mexico.
Can anybody tell me why?
And I do have a certain reason why I'm asking.
(O.K., it's damn early as I have to experiance the Baja first before thinking of that, but it's never too early to learn something)
I have some wonderful big big cedar posts
I do not want to throw 'em away (you can't sell cedar posts in Texas as they are common as chicken fried steak) and when (finally) moving to Baja I
easily can haul 'em.
So what's the deal on wood?
Germanicus > knocking on .... to get an answer
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Markitos
Nomad
Posts: 218
Registered: 1-4-2004
Location: San Diego/La Paz
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Mood: let me check
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I'm not sure of all the laws, So i dont bring in lumber.But the guys that work with me allways bring back the stuff I over order. Some of them have
realy nice places now!
All that wonder are not lost
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Germanicus
Nomad
Posts: 214
Registered: 6-13-2004
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this is where I saw the sign.
Baja Photo Gallery > Signs of Baja > page 1 > posted by bajagrande.
For those who don't have time to see it in original, this is how it reads:
"With the establishment of the checkpoints we can operate inflagranly against the trafic of Wood ... etc"
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Markitos
Nomad
Posts: 218
Registered: 1-4-2004
Location: San Diego/La Paz
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Mood: let me check
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OK OK Stop Me!
Ever been to La Paz Germanicus?
 You'll be packing wood.
I'm so sorry, I just had to say that.
Please dont kick me off.
All that wonder are not lost
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David K
Honored Nomad
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I Think...
.... it has to do with PROTECTING Mexican business. Desk Top computers, appliances, cars for sale, and other things that are also sold in Mexico are
restricted entry from the U.S.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3687
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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NAFTA
the real question is:
when does NAFTA kick in for all us little guys.
supposedly tarrifs and restrictions are lifted,
so howcome we still have $$ limits Northbound and Gestapo inspections Southbound??
just wondering???
Baja Arriba!!
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Markitos
Nomad
Posts: 218
Registered: 1-4-2004
Location: San Diego/La Paz
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Mood: let me check
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Thank you
All that wonder are not lost
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
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You got it right, Runner. NAFTA is for corporations, not people like most of us. Gotta keep those CEOs solvent!
Lera
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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jeans
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It's not just lumber...
In my shipment to the Santiago Zoo a few months ago, a large wooden storage box was held back. I had to go pick it up at the shipping yard. It was
refused by customs...as were several bags of dog food, another item on the No-no list. The dog food was banned for mad cow concerns...the wood, I was
not told...bugs, perhaps?
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8802
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When we imported the plastic fence last year we saw a guy being turned away with a load of used lumber.
So we asked....
Used lumber NO...New lumber OK if you have a legidimate project. It MUST look new.
We need to import some toung and groove pine for the roofs. Border inspectors said this would be OK but we would have to use the importer.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 8-20-2003
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Importing Wood
I have been hauling wood into Baja for over twenty years now.
Until about four years ago with no questions from Mexican customs.
One day I was coming across at the Garita Oriente in Mexicali and
pulled over for inspection. I had 54 2 x 4s. I was told that
madera was prohibited without a permit. After extensive discussion,
I was allowed to pay the duty "this one time only". For a couple of
years after, I would only bring in what I could sneak through, but
after awhile I found others who were bringing in large quantities and
simply paying duty. I then filled my truck to the top of the bed and
drove straight into secondary. No problem, they were again allowing
lumber as long as you declared it and paid the duty. I have a folder
in which I keep ALL of my Mexican customs receipts just in case one
day I come across and they've changed their mind again. I always write
"Madera" on the declaration so that I can show them that I have been
allowed to import in the past. At least that way, I'll be able to get
the current load across.
I have also brought across "used" telephone poles, but that was many
years ago when you could do anything as long as you paid the Mordida.
The published reason for not allowing wood imports is the same as the
United States. They are supposed to be inspected for parasites. That
is information that I personnaly read in a publication advising Tourists.
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burro bob
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Germanicus
While everyone else has posted info about the importation of wood I think the sign in the picture you refer to is about something else.
This is not a shot of a border crossing but rather a Military checkpoint (I think).
The wood being refered to is firewood. It is illeagal in Baja to cut any tree or shrub comercially without a special permit. This even includes the
collection of already dead wood. I can gather mesquite and ironwood on my ranch but only for my own use. I can't sell it.
A lot of the locals like to use ocotillo for fences but if they get caught with a truckload full of it they can loose their vehicle.
burro bob
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mcgyver
Nomad
Posts: 444
Registered: 8-22-2003
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Importation and?
MrBillM, I do and have done the same! Someone should mention to all the newbies that have never been to Baja that if their vehecile gets confisticated
for any violation of FEDERAL LAW it goes to the federal impound lot and NOTHING ever leaves there, They just pile them higher!. They don't care what
year,how much its worth, who it belongs to or anything else about it when the Feds get it they keep it, there are new Suburbans, Airstream trailers,
Freight Liners, Rental cars , airplanes and everything you can think of in those inpound lots. I once offered several K$ to the caretaker of one of
them for a car I wanted and he would not even talk to me for any amount of money, I persisted every month I passed this lot and one day the Federales
caught me and escorted me to the border and not in a friendly way! So make sure you have insurance and papers for anything you bring in. And yes live
or dead catus is going to get you in trouble in Mexico, California and Arizona, without a lisence tag on it from a grower.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 8-20-2003
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Impounded Vehicles
The Federal Impound yard in San Felipe gets larger and larger.
It is typical of their convoluted government that they don't
amend their laws so that they could make some revenue selling
off the stuff. Even if the typical corruption resulted in a
majority of the funds going into local pockets, at least it's
going back into the economy.
I actually had a neighbor who had his vehicle impounded. He
drove into Calexico and bought a new Honda Genset. Came back
with it in the box and didn't declare. Oops. Red light. They
seized the vehicle and all of its contents. Fined him $1200 to
get the truck back and THEY kept the Genset, which is EXACTLY
what the customs receipt says. "Fine of 120 % of the value of
the merchandise and loss of said goods".
There is always room for discussion if there is any question as
to whether something should be declared and I've never seen a
seizure unless the violation was flagrant. Brand-New equipment
still in the box is flagrant. On the other hand, a used genset
being taken down for "Camping" is OK. Knowing the line that you
don't want to cross is a result of experience. When in doubt,
declare.
On the subject of Firewood (Lena), I have neighbors who go out into
the desert with vehicle trailers and come back loaded with Firewood
and Ocotillo. I think they're insane. If they EVER run across an
Army patrol, they're dead meat. I bring Firewood in small amounts
down with each trip from El Norte and have never had a problem. I
even have labeled the Rubbermaid container "Lena" so they know I'm
not trying to hide it. Their big concern is the harvesting within
Baja of Firewood.
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JESSE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3370
Registered: 11-5-2002
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American and Canadian wood IS allowed entry into Mexico as long as it meets two requirements:
1.-It has to be NEW wood
2.-The importation must be done by a licenced importer.
A few years back used wood was allowed into Mexico, problem was that many of that wood was full of disease and insects, so it was becoming a highway
for disease into Mexican forests, so the goverment put a stop to it.
You can find new American, Canadian, and Mexican wood at almost any hardware store or Homedepot.
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mcgyver
Nomad
Posts: 444
Registered: 8-22-2003
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Wood & Impounding
I was very lucky, I had like MrBillM had said , done it and got away with it " Here is $20" and soforth till one morning they looked in the bed of the
truck at the 2 X 4s and sheet rock and other stuff and said unload lets see tickets! I waved the FM-3s around but they would only cover $100 of it.
You are arrested and will go to Mexicalli he said, I plead ingorance so convincinly that he relented but made me fill out the declaration for ever
stick and those that I didin't have tickets for were taken and I paid 37% duty on the rest.
Now I automaticly go to the declare lane, I was driving a 2004 Tacoma that day with 150 miles on it!! I don't take chances any more! He didn't
recognize me as a frequent crosser becuse of the different truck. He does now!
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
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Home Depot in Mexicali
I looked forward to the opening of the Home Depot in Mexicali.
It meant that I would no longer have to bother with hauling Lumber
across the border and going through the hassle. Unfortunately,
I found that the quality of the lumber carried was not on a par
with the Home Depots in the U.S., especially the 2x4s. The ones
in Mexicali look like they are culls from all of the U.S. stores
and they were 35 pesos each. I buy the Premium Whitewood 2x4s
in the U.S. for $2.69. Even after paying 17 % duty, they are
cheaper. Of course, cost is not the prime factor. I frequently
buy lumber at inflated prices from Maderas San Felipe when the
quality is good. Strangely, their 4x lumber is usually pretty
good and the 2x is crap.
As far as the USED lumber goes, I still see trucks with Baja
plates heading South piled high with used lumber. Wonder where
they're going ?
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JESSE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3370
Registered: 11-5-2002
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MrBill,
Its possible they didnt have good wood at that time, i just bought 100 2x4x8 of the best quality here at the Tijuana Home depot.
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Germanicus
Nomad
Posts: 214
Registered: 6-13-2004
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well, well, well, Tijuana , Mexicali > short trip cross the border and everything is available.
You guys are only talking BCN.
What about BCS?
It's not feasible to drive from BCS some 1000 mls for some two-by's.
So how is the wood supply / building supply in BCS?
Or is living in a palapa where the moon decides over your life and the Tequilla over your sleep the only solution?
Thinking about all the big-shot buildings around Cabo, where did that building material come from?
All cross the sea of Cortez shipped in?
Every brick?Every piece of lumber?
Hauled in all the way down from the U.S.?
Or what?
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
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If you've seen any buildings while under construction
in Baja, you would know that what they use is not always
"Quality" lumber or "Quality" anything else, for that
matter. The usual final stucco finish covers up some
really horrific work.
A casual tour of any Mexican town or City will show you
a lot of construction that has simply fallen down.
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