US officials tour EU capitals to lobby against deforestation law

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🗞️ Driving the news: Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the United States Trade Representative are touring several European capitals to lobby governments over the EU Deforestation Regulation
• They are reportedly urging Brussels to grant the United States a “negligible risk” classification under the law

🔭 The context: The regulation will require companies from December 2026 to prove that products sold in the EU, including cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber, livestock and timber, are not linked to deforestation
• The law is part of the EU’s broader environmental strategy to reduce global forest loss connected to supply chains
• Its rollout has already faced delays amid pushback from trading partners and industry groups

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The EU deforestation regulation is one of the world’s most ambitious attempts to curb global deforestation driven by commodity supply chains
• If implemented effectively, it could significantly reduce forest destruction tied to agricultural exports, protecting biodiversity, safeguarding carbon sinks and helping slow climate change

⏭️ What’s next: EU policymakers are reviewing the implementation of the regulation and may consider amendments in the coming weeks
• Washington’s diplomatic push seeks to secure favorable treatment for U.S. exports before final decisions on risk classifications are made

💬 One quote: “We cannot export deforestation.” — Virginijus Sinkevičius

📈 One stat: The regulation covers seven key commodities linked to deforestation: cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber, livestock and timber

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