Decision reached in the issue of Russia's export duties on timber

Press release 350/2010
25 November 2010

The European Commission and Russian authorities have reached a decision on Russia's export duties on timber in the negotiations over last weekend. The decision was confirmed in a meeting in Brussels yesterday.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen finds the solution a satisfactory compromise.

"The reached decision will significantly lower the currently applied customs duties and provides for continuing timber trade between Finland and Russia. Moreover, the outcome will improve cooperation potential of the entire forestry sector. The decision also bears a broader meaning, because timber export duties were the last substantial issue blocking Russia's path to WTO. Russia's WTO membership should be implemented as soon as possible."

Export duties on timber were initially agreed on in the 2004 WTO membership deal between the EU and Russia. After Russia raised the export duties in 2007, negotiations on the matter were re-initiated. The newly made agreement is a part of Russia's WTO obligations.

Further information: Hanna Saarni, Press Attaché to the Minister, tel. 0400 739 824, and Päivi Nevala, Advisor to the Minister, tel. +358 40 753 4375