EU Reaches Deal on One-Year Delay to Deforestation Regulation

European Union negotiators agreed to delay by one year a landmark law to curb deforestation across the world and soften requirements that have been criticized at home and abroad for their bureaucratic burden and impact on trade.

The European Commission, European Parliament and EU Council representing member states reached a preliminary deal on amendments to the EU’s Deforestation Regulation at meeting in Brussels on Thursday. The postponement the negotiators backed is twice as long as originally proposed by the commission, and removes the need for an extra six-month grace period sought by the EU executive.