Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes China's decision to lift ban on log trade

Media Release from AFPA 23rd May 2023

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes China’s decision to lift its quarantine ban on timber logs that has been in place for more than two years, Chief Executive Officer of AFPA Joel Fitzgibbon said today.

“We welcome the news of China’s decision to lift its quarantine ban that will allow the export trade of timber logs to resume. China has been and will continue to be an important market for Australian timber and wood fibre export products. When the ban came into effect more than two years ago it caused a great deal of upheaval and uncertainty for many timber exporters and the broader forest sector and this resolution is welcomed,” Joel Fitzgibbon said.

“AFPA and log exporters have worked closely with the Albanese Government, especially Trade Minister Don Farrell, and the former Coalition Government on this issue, and we thank them for their efforts helping to resolve the quarantine issues that China faced importing logs from Australia.”

China voiced phytosanitary concerns and the Commonwealth worked on a range of measures including increased inspections of log consignments, monitoring during fumigation, re-inspections after fumigation and increased audits for all log exporters.

“I look forward to normalisation of trade relations with regards to the timber log trade and AFPA will work closely with our impacted members, other stakeholders and the Commonwealth to ensure a smooth transition back to normal trade following today’s decision,” Joel Fitzgibbon concluded.