WASHINGTON — The Arkansas congressional delegation has asked top European Union leaders to reconsider its deforestation policy, arguing the regulation could negatively affect American wood imports as well as jeopardize the United States forest products industry.
The letter dated Friday from Arkansas’ senators and four House of Representatives members argues Regulation 2023/1115 poses “severe compliance challenges that constitute technical barriers to trade.” The delegate stressed the decision puts responsibility on the United States to help the political body reach its policy goals.
“The U.S. forest products industry is a strong proponent of international efforts to suppress deforestation and forest degradation,” the Arkansans wrote. “Unfortunately, as written, this regulation presents severe compliance challenges that constitute technical barriers to trade for the U.S. forest products industry.”
The European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products — which initially went into effect in June 2023 — calls on operators and traders involved in various commodities to prove their products are not from deforested lands or contributed to forest degradation. Goods impacted by the policy include cattle, cocoa, oil palm, coffee and various wood products, such as tools, paper and plywood.
The European Union last December granted medium- and large-sized companies an additional 12 months to comply with the rule. Other businesses have until June 2026 to make appropriate changes.
Timber is a core pillar of Arkansas’ economy. According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Natural State’s cash farm receipts with timber reached $409 million with forestry making up 4.1% of the state’s economy.
Members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation serve on congressional committees with jurisdiction over forestry matters. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., chairs the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is part of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
As for Arkansas’ House members, Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., leads the House Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., serves on the House Agriculture Committee. Westerman, of Hot Springs, is the only licensed forester serving on Capitol Hill.
The delegation argued the policy’s reporting requirements fail to recognize “commodity-specific challenges or country differences.” They additionally said the United States forest products sector “operates with deep visibility into their supply chains” with clean management rules and forestry practice guidance.
“We are asking you and the European Commission to work with the United States to ensure the United States is recognized as the lowest possible risk for deforestation and to ensure the geolocation traceability requirements in place are proportional to the level of risk for a particular country,” the lawmakers said. “These obligations should be simplified, more proportional and with greater distinction among the risk categories.”
The congressional delegation contended the United States could challenge the European policy in light of President Donald Trump’s approach to trade. The president, in his first days back in office, tasked administration officials with studying the United States’ international trade practices and any actions deemed as barriers to international markets.
“Unless these key problems are addressed, I am extremely concerned that the EU may lose their trading relationship with the U.S. forest products industry, which they rely upon every day,” the Arkansas lawmakers said.
The delegation told the European leaders they should work with American leaders on ensuring the body recognizes the United States as the “lowest possible risk for deforestation” with more attainable obligations.