Since April 2008, export duties for unprocessed wood will equal 25% of its customs value, but not less than € 15 for a cubic meter, and by 2009 will increase up to 80% of the customs value, but not less than €50 for a cubic meter.
Raise of timber customs duties to have dramatic consequences for Finland
The Finnish government is concerned over intentions of the Russian government to raise export duties for unprocessed timber, Regnum reports. In an interview to Yleisradio (Finland) Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen announced that if Russia introduces protecting custom duties for roundwood it would have dramatic consequences for the neighboring country, as Russian timber imports covers approximately one fifth of Finland’s demand for wood. According to Vanhanen, Finland hopes for support of the European Commission in the customs talks with Russia. The premier also expressed hope that Finland would manage to influence Russia’s position during bilateral talks between Russian and Finnish leadership. Earlier, Finland hinted that the question can be treated as a pre-condition for Russia’s entering the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is noteworthy, the forthcoming raise of the roundwood custom duties was met ambiguously in Karelia, the Russian region that exports over 3 mln of cubic meters of wood to Finland. For instance, at a meeting of Karelian timber merchants last October, General Director of the leading timber company in the region, Karellesprom, Nikolai Bobko warned the republican authorities that new raise of the custom duties would bury the regional timber companies. “Processing of wood must be developed in the country, but before introducing such tough measures, it is necessary to build carpentries and pay normal price for the unprocessed wood,” Bobko said.