Australia's forestry and forest products sector is warning the Federal Government the consequences of today's United States tariff decisions could result in more foreign timber and wood-fibre products being diverted to the Australian market, while our low margin paper and paperboard exporters will face material impacts. These tariffs strengthen the Australian Forest Products Association's (AFPA's) case ahead of the Federal Election for stronger border vigilance of the timber trade as well as country of origin labelling for timber and wood-fibre products.
AFPA's Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said, "Aside from obvious and very real impact on our direct exporters to the US, we're concerned the ricochet effect of the tariffs will mean some countries could resort to dumping their large export volumes intended for the US, to markets like Australia. There is the real prospect that Australia could experience an influx of dubious, imported timber and wood-fibre products - impacting a local industry already under pressure from the depressed housing market.
"It's difficult to forecast the full impact of these tariffs but it signals that we'll need to be more vigilant at our borders. Two key requests in AFPA's Australian Timber. Australia's Future Election Platform are country of origin labelling so consumers know where the timber product they're buying comes from, Australia or otherwise, and ongoing Commonwealth funding to crack-down on illegally logged timber.
"We know the illegal trade is an increasing problem for Australia because a Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's (DAFF) testing trial last year found a quarter of tested imported products were found to be inconsistent with declared species, origin, or both.
"Ahead of the Federal Election, we call on all sides of politics to commit to our Election Platform in full, but in light of today's tariff announcement, especially the country of origin labelling measure and increased support to crack-down on the illegal timber trade at our borders.
"While waiting to see how global trade will shift in reaction to today's US tariff decision, the Federal Government can act to help inform consumers of timber and wood-fibre through country of origin labelling and making sure there's as much vigilance at our borders as possible to catch illegal product," Diana Hallam concluded
