Opinion | Why Asia can’t wait for Europe to lead on deforestation-free timber

Asia’s dependence on regulatory developments in Brussels risks importing the same contradictions that hinder decisive action by the EU Reading Time:3 minutes Why you can trust SCMP Published: 5:30am, 23 Nov 2025 Europe is once again embroiled in a prolonged argument over how to keep deforestation-linked timber out of its markets. The European Union’s deforestation regulations, once promoted as a bold step forward, have instead become a symbol of hesitation and uneven political will. Advertisement Some governments want delays and others push for exemptions, creating persistent uncertainty. For Asia, observing this from afar, the indecision carries more consequence than might…