The European Union and Indonesia have struck an agreement to control the origin of all timber exports from the Southeast Asian nation to prevent illegal logging, which is devastating the country’s tropical forests. The European Commission, the 28-nation bloc’s executive arm, said on Monday the deal will only allow the export of verified timber and timber products to the EU in the future. The EU is a key market for Indonesian wood and paper, with annual exports totaling about US $1.2 billion, accounting for some 15 percent of the country’s exports. The EU says it is helping Indonesia to establish and improve an independently monitored traceability system to ensure all timber is produced in accordance with Indonesian law.—AP
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