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AF&PA Applauds New York Governor Hochul for Vetoing Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement in response to New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoing the Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act (S.4859-A/A.5682-A):

“The American Forest & Paper Association applauds Governor Hochul’s decision to veto New York’s Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act. The U.S. paper and wood products industry depends on sustainable forest growth. We champion sustainable forestry.

“The proposed legislation brought significant concerns for our industry impacting non-tropical forest products, like cardboard boxes and paper bags.

“It would have also created trickle-down effects for our industry’s circular supply chain and raised serious questions on the trade restrictive approach to forest management.

“New York lawmakers should instead engage in dialogue with the international community recognizing sustainably managed forests and wood product supply chains that already exist in North America.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030