MOSCOW – Russia is banning the export of more than 200 products to Western countries. The list of products, announced Thursday, includes forestry products and equipment, as well as telecom, medical, auto, agricultural, electric and tech equipment, according to Reuters. Containers and railway cars also made the list.
Russia did not specifically state which wood and forest products would be banned.
It justified its decision, saying it’s a “logical response to those imposed against Russia and are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted functioning of key sectors of the economy.”
According to wood flow resource TimberCheck, the U.S. sources at least 10% of its hardwood plywood from Russia. Around 97% of those imports were of birch plywood products.
In 2019, Russia became the world’s largest exporter of softwood lumber, which is primarily used in home building.
