Illegal logging and related illegal timber trade pose a serious challenge to community development，national stability，climate change and biodiversity. In recent years，this issue has received increasing attention internationally. Alongside efforts to strengthen timber-producing countries’ forest governance，consumer countries are also taking active steps to crack down on illegal timber imports. China is the biggest importer of global timber products，and it has developed voluntary guidelines for Chinese timber companies operating overseas to reduce the negative impacts caused by its huge demand for timber products. But China could make a much more useful contribution to the fight against the illegal timber trade by passing a law prohibiting the import of such materials.