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AF&PA Congratulates U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer

Reaffirms importance of regulatory negotiations with the EU Commission

WASHINGTON – American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement on Jamieson Greer’s confirmation as U.S. Trade Representative.

“We congratulate Mr. Greer on his confirmation to serve as U.S. Trade Representative. AF&PA members make about 87% of the pulp, paper, paper-based packaging and tissue products made in the U.S., supporting over 900,000 American manufacturing jobs in mostly rural communities across the country.

“We encourage Mr. Greer to swiftly engage with the European Commission to address concerns about the EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR). Europe is an important market for American-made essential paper products, and this one-size-fits-all regulatory approach ignores the U.S. as among the most responsible suppliers of forest fiber in the world.

“We look forward to working with Mr. Greer to have the U.S. recognized as not contributing to global deforestation. The burden EUDR places on U.S. pulp, paper and packaging manufacturers will not achieve the EU’s stated policy goal.”

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