The Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers (USW) are both voicing concerns
over a decision by regulators which they say would grant special exemptions
for pulp and paper from the Lacey Act reforms of 2008.
“These landmark reforms aim to protect the world’s forests and communities
by halting the import and sale of illegally-produced wood products in the
U.S.,” according to a statement released on Tuesday by the USW. “Under the
Lacey Act reforms an importer must declare the country and harvest of origin
for their products, an essential step to creating transparency in a
previously unregulated market where the U.S. demand was driving
de-forestation around the world.”
“Fully incorporating all wood products, including pulp and paper, into the
declaration requirement is essential if the Lacey Act’s potential is to be
fully realized and global trade in illegally-sourced wood products is to
decrease,” said Margrete Strand Rangnes, director of the Sierra Club’s
Labor, Workers’ Rights, and Trade Program.
“In the U.S. illegal logging makes it impossible for workers and companies
to compete,” the statement said. “Because illegal loggers do not pay fees to
their government or pay the market price for the trees they cut, they are
able to sell their products for less than legitimate timber companies.”
“The USW has seen true devastation among our members as multiple plants have
closed or reduced production, in large part because of imports from nations
where illegal logging is a large part of the timber supply,” said Holly
Hart, legislative director of the USW.
“According to the USW, the multiple plant closing and curtailments taken
together have and will impact adversely many hundreds of USW members,
including a very significant fraction of the workers remaining in the coated
paper sector,” the statement said. “There will be additional harm done to
the communities in which these impacted facilities are located as the
effects of the closings and curtailments ripple through local economies.”
“Around the world illegal logging harms communities, degrading drinking
water supplies and breeding corruption and crime that often threaten the
lives of citizens who want sustainable jobs and lasting protection for the
natural legacy of their countries,” the statement said. “Illegal timber
syndicates are responsible for murdering and exploiting citizens in
Honduras, Mexico, Brazil, and other nations.”
The Sierra Club and the USW “believe that a strong enforcement program for
the Lacey Act, covering the imports of wood, wood products, pulp, and paper,
will allow our national to significantly reduce de-forestation around the
world.”