ILLEGALLY-SOURCED TIMBER AND THE PROPOSED JAPAN-EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Early day motion 2642, tabled 24 January 2012 by Barry Gardiner (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House notes that Japan is one of the world's largest importers of tropical timber and that in 2008 Chatham House estimated the value of illegally-sourced wood products imported by Japan at US$2.3 billion; further notes that informal discussions about a possible free trade agreement are taking place between the EU and Japan; believes that any such agreement should have provisions to counter imports of illegally-sourced timber into Japan which would as minimum render Japanese import controls commensurate with Regulation (EU) No. 995/2010 (the Timber Regulation) that prohibits placing illegal timber on the EU market; and urges the Government to call on the EU to demand stringent and effective illegal logging provisions as a pre-condition for any future free trade agreement with Japan.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Green 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.