Plywood traders need to stand up to “dishonest” operators otherwise the problem of mismarking and misselling plywood will “never be solved”, the president of the European Panel Products Association (UCIP) has told the London Plywood Club.
“The plywood industry in this country and in other countries within Europe is lacking in integrity,” UCIP president Mike Harrod told the club meeting at the Master Gunner, London on April 8.
“Until the honest traders stand up against the dishonest ones and take a case to court or send back illegal plywood, we will never ever solve the problem. We have to take the lead and make it work.”
Mr Harrod also revealed that it was EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson who put pressure on European plywood manufacturers recently to ditch their efforts to expand anti-dumping duties onto other species of Chinese plywood. He said UCIP had made a fantastic case against the duty expansion.
He said presidents of UCIP and related European associations representing hardwood and softwood would take a more important role in coming years.
“We have had this insular island mentality for so many years but we have to take up the cudgel and realise we are part of Europe. Legislation that affects so many parts of our trade will be made in Brussels, not Westminster.”
