EUDR Compliance Nears, US Seeks Weaker Rules
The EU Deforestation Regulation takes effect in under ten weeks, as US Congressman Lloyd Doggett urges Europe to maintain the law against administration efforts to dilute it.
EU Deforestation Regulation Nears Implementation
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is scheduled to become effective in under ten weeks, facing ongoing pressure from the Trump administration to dilute its provisions. This information comes from Texas Democrat Lloyd Doggett, a member of the House of Representatives’ trade subcommittee, who has publicly advocated for the regulation’s full implementation.
Doggett stated that the US administration has spent months attempting to weaken the EU’s landmark anti-deforestation law. Brussels has already postponed the regulation’s start date twice, a fact Doggett highlighted in his recent appeal to the Financial Times’ Sustainable Views.
The EUDR requires companies importing certain commodities, including timber and wood products, into the EU market to conduct due diligence to ensure they were not produced on deforested or degraded land.
US Congressional Push for EUDR Integrity
Congressman Doggett has spearheaded efforts to preserve the EUDR’s integrity. Approximately six months ago, he, alongside Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib, organized 32 House Democrats to sign a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
This letter argued that the US administration could not be considered a credible negotiator on the EUDR while simultaneously seeking to undermine both European and American forest protections.
The 32 lawmakers specifically opposed the administration’s proposal for a “no risk” designation for US products, warning that such a change would promote forest loss and disadvantage American companies that have already invested in complying with the EUDR.
Furthermore, in May of this year, Doggett introduced the TREE Act, a bill supported by 21 House Democrats, designed to prohibit US imports of commodities derived from deforested or degraded land. This act aims to establish a single, consistent set of sustainability trade rules for American businesses.
US Industry and Diplomatic Efforts for Changes
Despite congressional support for the EUDR, significant US industry and diplomatic efforts have sought to modify the regulation. The global advocacy group Mighty Earth identified that the National Alliance of Forest Owners held 26 meetings with European lawmakers regarding the EUDR, exceeding the engagement of major corporations like Mondelēz, Cargill, and Bunge.
Additionally, over 1,000 US forestry companies, associations, and individuals petitioned President Trump in August to press Brussels for further amendments to the regulation. US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder has also engaged with European officials, including Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall in April.
Puzder cited a US-EU trade framework from August 2025, where the EU Commission reportedly recognized the US as posing a "negligible risk" to global deforestation, urging the EU to act on this recognition.
EU's Firm Stance and Compliance Deadlines
Brussels, however, has maintained its position on the EUDR. In its May review of the regulation, the European Commission opted against reopening the law’s core text. Instead, it chose to simplify compliance through the issuance of guidance and secondary legislation.
As the regulation stands, large and medium-sized companies importing relevant commodities must comply by the end of 2026. Micro and small timber firms are also subject to this same deadline, notably receiving no extension to mid-2027, unlike other small and medium-sized enterprises in different sectors.
This firm stance means that the core requirements for due diligence and traceability remain in place for all affected businesses.
What This Means for Asian Suppliers
For Asian manufacturers and exporters of timber, wood products, rubber, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and beef, the EUDR’s full implementation by the end of 2026 means an immediate requirement to establish robust due diligence systems.
Suppliers must provide verifiable proof that their products do not originate from land deforested after December 31, 2020, or from land that has been degraded. This includes geo-location data, traceability information, and due diligence statements.
Asian businesses should prepare to meet these documentation and audit demands to avoid market access issues in the EU, regardless of the ongoing political discussions in the US. The absence of a "no risk" designation for any country means all suppliers, including those from Asia, must demonstrate compliance.
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