EU Is Currently Preparing The Implementation of The Export Quotas for Russian Roundwood

The EU is currently preparing the implementation of the export quotas for Russian roundwood that come into force once Russia has joined the WTO. Russia will become a WTO member on 22 August 2012 at the latest. In this vein, Russia will lower the presently applicable roundwood export duties of 25% of the product value by an average of 50%. Duties on spruce roundwood will thus fall to 13% of the product value and those on pine roundwood to 15%. 7 and 5% duty will be applicable for birch and poplar roundwood exports, respectively. The same duty rates will apply for sawlogs and pulpwood. However, the reduced rates will only apply for a maximum quantity of 6.246 million m³ of spruce roundwood and 16.038 million m³ of pine roundwood. The old duty rates apply for exports outside these quotas. No quota will apply for birch and poplar roundwood, which can thus be exported in unlimited quantities at the new duty rates. Source: euwid-wood-products