On May 15, 2026, the Exchange Meeting on Compliance Development and International Expansion of Wood Industry Enterprises, jointly organized by the China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), was successfully held in Laibin, Guangxi. More than 30 representatives from the industry, including experts, timber trading and processing companies, and international organizations, attended the meeting. Focusing on compliance development and international expansion, participants discussed new pathways for industrial upgrading.
At the meeting, Yang Yuqi, representative of the German TTT Project, introduced the strategic positioning of trilateral cooperation among China, Germany, and Africa. She stated that the project would support pilot implementation of the due diligence management standard and the industry self-discipline convention, promote mutual recognition between Chinese and international industry systems, and recommend compliant Chinese enterprises to relevant overseas partners. Companies were also invited to participate more deeply in the development of industry standards.
Tang Zhenzhong, Director of the Information Center of the Association, introduced the latest progress of the China Wood Industry Supply Chain Due Diligence Management Standard. The standard is benchmarked against ISO 38200 and incorporates requirements including those of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). In 2026, pilot implementation will begin across the entire industry supply chain, including supply chains involving African timber.
Ma Siran, Secretary-General of the Timber Importers and Exporters Branch of the Association, presented the revision of the Industry Self-Discipline Convention, outlining its core provisions and areas for improvement to better align with international standards.
During the keynote session, Tang Huanhao, Chairman of Honglin Holdings; Jiang Hao, General Manager of Yihuang Wood Industry; and Song Qiyan, General Manager of Akemu Building Materials, shared practical experience in responsible sourcing, market assessment, and international expansion for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Sun Jian, representative of PBN, explained the due diligence requirements of the EUDR and presented relevant risk cases, while also introducing open-source due diligence tools.
During the discussion session, participants reached a broad consensus: proactive compliance is the best path for the long-term development of enterprises, and the industry should move away from excessive low-price competition and work together to establish independent standards suited to the realities of China’s wood industry.
The meeting provided a systematic overview of international trends in timber compliance, the internal and external challenges facing China’s wood industry, and potential pathways for transformation and upgrading.
Going forward, the Association will focus on four key areas: deeper participation by pilot enterprises, practical implementation of the provisions of the China Wood Industry Supply Chain Due Diligence Management Standard, innovation in the enforcement mechanisms of the Industry Self-Discipline Convention, and international mutual recognition of Chinese standards. It will further refine the pilot program and revise the Industry Self-Discipline Convention, helping Chinese wood industry enterprises steadily evolve from rule takers to active participants in rule-making.
