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US Democrats propose bill that could target Indonesian palm oil
The "FOREST Act of 2021," introduced simultaneously in the Senate and House of Representatives by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Earl Blumenauer, could have a major impact on trade from nations such as Brazil and Indonesia, but faces a difficult climb in the deeply divided Congress.
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In this file photo the US Capitol building on March 25, 2020, in Washington, DC. US lawmakers have reached a deal for a new package to boost the world's largest economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said on Sunday.
(AFP/Axel Edelman)
D
emocrats in the US Congress on Wednesday were set to unveil legislation to reduce illegal deforestation globally by restricting the trade of certain agricultural commodities, such as palm oil and cattle, produced with those methods.
The "FOREST Act of 2021," introduced simultaneously in the Senate and House of Representatives by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Earl Blumenauer, could have a major impact on trade from nations such as Brazil and Indonesia, but faces a difficult climb in the deeply divided Congress.
Under the Democrats' bill, companies would have to improve their tracking of supply chains for certain commodities, especially palm oil, cocoa, soy and cattle products, as well as rubber and wood pulp, to prove they come from areas that have not been illegally logged. Imports falling short of the standard would be blocked and companies would face US legal action and fines.
"Deforestation is continuing to accelerate," Schatz said in a telephone interview, adding, "It's time to use the economic and political power in the possession of the United States" to reverse that trend.
The legislation is intended in part to provide a model for world governments to tackle deforestation, shortly before November's UN climate conference in Glasgow. Experts estimate that deforestation accounts for about 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
"If deforestation were a country it would be the third-largest emitter" of greenhouse gases, Schatz said.
Although Schatz is a member of a Senate climate change panel and Blumenauer chairs a powerful House trade subcommittee, the two lawmakers so far have been unable to generate much support from Republicans, who could prevent the bill from advancing, especially in the Senate.
