United States Justice Department Providing Anti-Timber Trafficking Training in Vietnam

Attorneys from the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice are conducting a training workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam, in cooperation with the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Forest Protection Department.

The workshop aims to train Vietnam government officials on how to counter illegal timber trafficking. The workshop will last until Thursday and is part of a larger U.S.-Vietnam law enforcement capacity-building collaboration event that is currently taking place in Hanoi. 

This is the first of a series of technical assistance workshops and discussions with Vietnam’s forestry, industry, and non-governmental stakeholders. The workshops are part of the U.S.-Vietnam Agreement to foster a more collaborative approach to combatting the illegal timber trade. 

The collaboration event involves several participants, including the Justice Department, U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security, and the U.S. Embassy. Along with them, government officials from Vietnam and industry and other organizational stakeholders are also participating in the event. 

As part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the United States and Vietnam, both leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation on law enforcement and security.