Musicians have been hard hit by international restrictions on the trade in Rosewood and other exotic woods, but now they're getting a break from a key committee tweaking the rules.

The restrictions that went into effect under the 2017 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna - commonly referred to as CITES - were meant to protect the trees from the high demand for Rosewood furniture in China.  The increased demand led to worries about preserving the trees and to violence in areas that produce the wood.

However, Rosewood is a prized tonewood used in Xylophones, Clarinets, and Guitars - both electric and acoustic.  The musical instruments industry lost tens of millions of dollars in sales after 2017.  Traveling musicians had to full out heaps of new paperwork to cross international borders with their instruments, fearing that a mistake or irregularity would lead to governments confiscating their axes.  

Musicians and manufacturers pushed for an exemption because "the world of music and culture will lose certain instruments that produce the highest quality tones, with no corresponding conservation benefit."  The amount of Rosewood harvested for musical instruments is minuscule compared to furniture and housewares.

A committee working with on modifications to the CITES treaty heard their pleas, and the changes are expected to be approved by the end of the week.