Countries, businesses and trade officials urge EU to rethink deforestation regulation

A growing number of governments, international trade organizations and businesses are urging the European Union to reconsider a deforestation regulation set to take effect in December.

Critics of the regulation say it will discriminate against countries with forest resources and hurt their exports. Supporters of the EU Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR for short, say it will help combat forest degradation on a global scale.

Several commodity associations have said they support the objectives of the regulation but that gaps in its implementation could harm their businesses.

Environmental organizations have voiced support, saying the EUDR will help slow global deforestation, which is the second-biggest source of carbon emissions after fossil fuels.

Here's a look at the EU Deforestation Regulation:

What is the EUDR and what products is it expected...