Richard Hyett

The timber industry says Russian wood is making it into Australia by exploiting loopholes in the country’s sanctions following the Ukraine war. Tariffs have been in place on Russian and Belarusian timber since April 2022, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. But the Australian Forest Products Association has found Russian imports are coming to Australia by being rerouted through countries like China and Lithuania first. “If a product is manufactured in another country or substantially transformed, it avoids that tariff,” acting CEO Richard Hyett said. “Russian timber can go to China, be manufactured into LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and come to Australia and not attract the tariff, and we think that is wrong. …”Australia is facing a depressed market at the moment,” Mr Hyett said.