EUDR Continues to Pose a Critical Trade Risk for U.S. Paper Manufacturing.
WASHINGTON – American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock reacted to the European Commission’s proposal to delay implementation of the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR):
“AF&PA welcomes a delay and urges the EU to use this period to address more fundamental problems with the EUDR beyond IT system limitations. EUDR is, and continues to be, a non-tariff trade barrier for U.S. forest product exports into the EU. Additional changes are needed to address this regulation and the disproportionate and unworkable obligations on the U.S. pulp and paper industry, which is recognized by the EU as a negligible risk to global deforestation.
“The EUDR, which has been identified as a non-tariff trade barrier by the U.S. Trade Representative, risks over $3.5 billion in annual forest products exports to the EU. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day.
The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative
