[Scoutmaster]

did an agent of the US government suggest to you that your problems would go away if you used Madagascar labor instead of American labor

Here's the context in which that comment was made.

You can't export raw Madagascar rosewood or ebony out of Madagascar except with a specific exception for that one shipment from the Minister of Madagascar.

However, the Madagascar government allows certain Madagascar tradesmen to make products out of ebony and rosewood if the fallen logs are recorded in the government records, such as those knocked down in a storm, or felled before a certain date (I think it's 2004, but I'd have to check on it). With the right paperwork, those handicrafts and manufactured products can be exported. But not the raw wood.

Gibson imported the raw wood to make its own fingerboards. The government's position - in response to an argument made by Gibson - was that there was a potential legal source for Madagascar ebony fingerboards. Gibson could buy fingerboards made in Madagascar by Madagascar labor. Because Madagascar could issue a permit for those to be exported. Gibson didn't want to play by those rules.

[GOPJ]

I don't believer the ‘fallen tree’ thing. It's some kind of trade war move - corruption/grease my hand crap... You want me to believe Madagascar is rule of law/ environmentalists on steroids? Yeah, right. I'll see if the truth can be googled.

[hedgetrimmer]

Why, that’s protectionism! And the certain tradesmen? How do they get that privilege?