The EU approved an antideforestation law. The US paper lobby sought to weaken it
When the European Union’s new anti-deforestation law threatened to expose the environmental costs of logging in North America’s forests, the American paper industry, supported by the U.S. government, mobilized an intense lobbying effort to weaken the legislation. According to lobbying disclosures, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), a leading trade group representing paper and […]
The European Union recently approved a stringent anti-deforestation law, prompting the American paper industry to mount a fierce lobbying campaign to weaken the legislation. According to lobbying records, the influential American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has spent around $11 million on advocacy since 2023, with $1.3 million already allocated for the current year alone.
Representing major companies like Procter & Gamble and International Paper, AF&PA has held numerous meetings with lawmakers and officials from various U.S. departments, including Agriculture, Forest Service, State, Commerce, and Trade. In response, U.S. officials toured European capitals in the hopes of securing exemptions to the EU's landmark deforestation regulations, set to take effect in December.
The new rules mandate that companies selling wood, paper, and similar commodities in Europe must demonstrate their products did not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation. Industry groups have pushed for a "no-risk" category with relaxed due-diligence requirements, which could impact U.S.-EU trade relations. The U.S. exported timber products worth $879.7 million to the EU last year.
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