U.S. Trade with Liberia

Under the Lacey Act, importers of wood products from Liberia must file a Plant and Plant Product Declaration (PPQ Form 505) with USDA APHIS, disclosing the scientific name of the species, the country where the plant was harvested, and the quantity. Failure to declare or submitting inaccurate information can result in civil or criminal penalties, so due diligence on the supply chain — including chain-of-custody documentation — is essential.

No — the flag of the vessel has no bearing on the country of origin of the cargo it carries. Liberia is one of the world's largest open-registry flag states, so many ships flying the Liberian flag carry goods from entirely different origins. CBP determines country of origin based on where the goods were grown, produced, or substantially transformed, not the vessel's flag.