Derek Nighbor

OTTAWA – As Prime Minister Carney prepares to address the European Parliament and advance a strengthened Canada–European Union security and trade partnership, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is urging Canada and the EU to use this moment to address existing trade barriers, including the European Deforestation-free Product Regulation (EUDR) scheduled to take effect later this year. No one disputes the intent of EUDR and Canada and the EU share a commitment to sustainable trade, climate action, and responsible natural resource development. The current EUDR approach fails to recognize the robust frameworks governing forestry in Canada, including third-party forest certification, Indigenous leadership in Canadian forestry, and the importance of active forest management to address catastrophic wildfire risks. In its current form, the regulation risks imposing tens of millions of dollars of unnecessary costs on Canadian producers, small woodlot owners, and integrated forest product supply chains without delivering any real benefit. …FPAC is calling on EU decision-makers to adopt targeted simplification measures for low-risk trading partners… “Getting this right matters,” said Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of FPAC.