A sharp increase in European oak log exports to China in 2022 has prompted efforts by a series of European forest products associations to show the European Commission (EC) that this trade "has reached unsustainable levels and risks endangering the viability of forest products ". (EU) Industry".
These efforts are carried out by EOS in partnership with the European Panel Federation (EPF), the European Parquet Industry Federation (FEP), the European Furniture Industry Federation (EFIC), the European Office Furniture Federation (FEMB) and Italy's Federlegno Van Bael and Help from Bellis Law Firm.
According to EOS, to date, the European Commission has not been convinced that restrictions on the export of oak logs are necessary for the following reasons:
There is a risk of retaliation, as China may take steps in response to any restrictions on log exports (both in woodworking and other industries).
Chinese operators, or Europeans acting on their behalf, expand the number of possible customers for forest owners: thus, what is bad for the wood processing industry is good for forest owners. This is the result of the market. The European Commission therefore recommends that European industry negotiate with forest owners and find solutions locally.
The EU has not received factual evidence of a critical shortage of an essential product, and EU interests call for immediate intervention.
An investigation by the European Commission's Beijing office has found no evidence that China's log import trade and related processing industries are being subsidized in violation of WTO rules.
However, EOS noted that the European Commission is "interested in continuing discussions and cannot entirely rule out action to restrict the export of logs".