Myanmar’s Timber Trade Since the Coup: The Impact of Sanctions
By The Forest Policy, Trade, and Finance Initiative View PublicationTwo years since the coup d’état against the newly re-elected Union Government of Myanmar (UGoM), and despite a logging ban imposed by the junta and sanctions imposed by the EU, UK, US, Switzerland, and Canada, exports of forest products continue — topping more than half a billion US dollars since February 1, 2021. Sanctioned jurisdictions have reportedly imported about 17% (US$91 million) of the trade, while half continues to go to China and a further fifth reportedly to India, neither of which have sanctions.
In this brief, we analyze available data from Myanmar and other international sources to provide an update on the state of Myanmar’s timber trade since the coup.