Russian Government Confirms Log Ban Will Start in 2022

According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev, the Russian government is not considering lifting the ban on the export of logs, which is scheduled to go into effect in 2022. RIA News cited Trutnev, saying, “The government of the Russian Federation has made a decision to gradually increase export duties. This year, the duty is 80%. Next year, the ban on the export of logs comes into force. This is done in order to create jobs in the forestry industry, to build processing plants.” Trutnev noted that the government is not considering any issues related to the abolition of protective duties. “We proceed from the assumption that the export of logs will be prohibited next year.” The state-owned company for the export of logs is being considered as one of the measures for the transition period, Trutnev added.