Burma wood under embargo

About the official adoption of last November’s law on economic restrictions applied by the EU to wood, metals and precious stones from Burma, Federlegno-Arredo companies first agreed on the embargo although they estimate dangerous and negative aftermaths for the system, to the benefit of Asian competitors.

From this country, the Italian wood-furniture industry imports “teak burma”, raw material used in the shipbuilding industry.

During a recent meeting held in Milan, the Federlegno-Arredo President, Roberto Snaidero, showed a certain amount of alarm about the hard situation the Italian wood-furniture companies are in, because they are forced not to buy raw materials to the benefit of Asian competitors.  The EU restrictions don’t affect more important and profitable industries for the military junta in Burma, such as oil or natural gas.

Snaidero gave the involved companies a warning so as to find “a suitable solution for all Italian companies to consolidate their position on international markets without setting apart development opportunities… and to keep our competitiveness at high levels”.