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Home NATIONALLimiting timber trade to hurt both countries
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Sun, 05 Jul, 2015 10:29:34 PM
Russia mulls possible sanction against Finland
FTimes-STT Report, July 5
Photo Lehtikuva.
The forest industry does not have its finger on the panic button, even though Russia has discussed limiting the timber trade as a possible sanction against Finland. 
 
The president of the Russian Security Council suggested sanctions against Finland on Friday, following denial of short-term waiver of travel ban on some Russian delegates.
 
Jukka Halonen, a Russian expert from the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, hopes for a peaceful solution to the issue.
 
“Let’s wait and see what the discussion in Moscow next week leaves on the table.”
 
There is still some administrative distance that the sanctions must travel before getting Putin’s signature.
 
According to Halonen, Finland’s forest industry has actively developed the forest sector in northwest Russia, especially in harvesting. According to him, a ban on the timber trade would hurt both sides of the border.
 
Russian wood exports to Finland were 8 million cubic metres, half of which was birch fibre.
 
It is unclear how sanctions would affect customs and what type of timber is exported.
 
“For Russians, birch fibre has little use, but once processed in Finland, it becomes valuable. The export ban would result in the collapse of the Russian harvesting sector,” Halonen added.
 
Restrictions on exports from Finland probably will not happen, according to Halonen, because Russia would be unable to replace those paper and cardboard products and machines that come from Finland.
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