Barry Gardiner, minister for biodiversity, landscape and rural affairs, is meeting Japanese environment minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi and forestry minister Toshikatsu Matsuoko to discuss issues such as illegal logging and the promotion of responsible forest management.
Mr Gardiner will be in Tokyo for talks as part of Japan’s preparations for its G8 presidency next year before attending the GLOBE event in Washington.
“The UK is leading the world in public sector demand for legal timber from sustainably managed forests, and if more countries work together, we will create the right climate and conditions for change,” said Mr Gardiner.
“Illegal logging distorts international trade by undercutting, unfairly, the legitimate market price for timber.”
Mr Gardiner recently sealed an agreement with the Australian government to work closer together to combat illegal timber.
