The U.S. government is tightening its pressure on Germany and the EU to allow a special exemption for American firms under the Anti‑Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). According to reports from “Tagesspiegel Background”, a meeting is scheduled for today with representatives of the Trump administration and several German federal ministries, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The U.S. aims to secure a practical exemption from the EUDR’s documentation requirements for its companies.
Sources at the talks, who are in agreement on the key points, warn that U.S. officials could jeopardise the forthcoming trade agreement with the EU if Washington does not obtain a preferential ranking in the EUDR country‑benchmarking process. A demand for a zero‑risk category had already been rejected in Brussels.
Within the European Parliament, concerns are mounting over possible political interference and the dilution of the regulation. Green MEP Anna Cavazzini describes the situation as an “unprecedented intrusion”. The debate is expected to move to the EU Council next week.