WTO chief urges EU to rethink deforested goods ban

The director of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged the European Union to reconsider its regulation banning imports from deforested areas, scheduled to come into force on December 30. This legislation has generated criticism from countries such as Brazil, which consider that it negatively affects their exports of products such as timber, soybeans and coffee. Okonjo-Iweala noted that the lack of clear guidelines creates uncertainty for exporters, while Brazil and Colombia have asked to discuss the measure at the WTO. The EU is evaluating possible adjustments or delays in implementation.