The Philippines’ export development council (EDC) is asking the government to reduce imported wood duties in the face of a domestic logging ban.
The council says a reduction in tariffs would help industry survive the lack of wood raw material due to the ban.
Log import duties range from 3-7%, while imported plywood rates can be 5-15%.
EDC’s request follows the government’s recent decision to allow selective logging in Davao and the Caraga.
The council also wants to see rattan, vines, bark and fibre excluded from the ban on the grounds that harvesting of these products does not damage forest cover.
