Members of the House on both sides are joining forces to urge President Joe Biden to appeal the European Union’s globally criticized deforestation regulations, which they claim will hurt the entire forestry supply chain in the United States. In a letter led by Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), signed by 73 Republican and Democratic members, the legislators called on Biden to request a two-year delay of the EU Deforestation-free Regulation, which companies will be required to comply with by the end of December. The lawmakers said the regulations are “well intentioned” but that many U.S. producers still lack “critical clarity” from the EU ahead of the deadline. “Without more time for implementation, billions of dollars of trade are at stake,” lawmakers wrote in the letter. “Without legal certainty that U.S. producers can place products on the EU market according to EUDR compliance requirements, significant trade disruptions will result.” 

Related coverage in Lesprom: Swedish wood industry leaders call for delay of EU deforestation law to protect local businesses