OREANDA-NEWS. July 03, 2012. The EU has published export tariff quotas for Russian logs in advance of Russia joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as Timber Trades Journal Online reported.

Russia is reducing export duties on its logs as part of a compromise to join the WTO in August.

The quotas now released are 5,960,600m3 for spruce exports to the EU and 3,645,900m3 for pine. As previously predicted, the tariff rate within the quota will be 13% for spruce and 15% for pine. Outside the quota, the duty currently stands at 25%.

Three quota periods will apply – the remainder of 2012, the full year 2013 and 2014. During the first part of each quota period (ie from January 1-July 31, 2013) traditional importers will be allocated 70% of the quota, while newcomers will receive 30%.

To be recognised as a traditional importer, companies need to prove they have imported a minimum of 5,000m3 of spruce and pine logs, either in 2004, 2007, or based on the average imported in these two years.