US Corporations Lobbied EU to Weaken Deforestation Law
Mighty Earth reports that US corporations and government officials conducted a two-year lobbying campaign to delay and dilute the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
An investigation by the environmental watchdog Mighty Earth reveals that 24 US corporations and trade associations conducted a two-year lobbying blitz to weaken and postpone the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Between July 2024 and July 2026, these entities held more than 350 meetings with European Commission officials and members of the European Parliament.
The campaign involved high-level political pressure, including a July 2025 meeting between Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen. This meeting resulted in a joint statement suggesting the United States poses negligible risk to global deforestation. US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder further argued that the regulation would impose significant regulatory costs while providing inconsequential environmental benefits when applied to low-risk countries.
While the EUDR prohibits imports of commodities from deforested land, the law's implementation has been delayed twice and its tracing requirements have been revised. Industry groups, including the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU and the US Soybean Export Council, deny attempting to derail the legislation. They maintain that their engagement focused on addressing implementation challenges and securing transition periods to prevent undue trade impacts.
