Malaysia has warned that any attempts to list species like Genus Shorea — one of the world’s traded tropical hardwoods — and the Dipterocarpus genus or Apitong, on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) need to be backed by credible scientific evidence, and not by politics.
Tan Peng Juan, president of the Malaysian Timber Association, told the Daily Express Malaysia that he had serious concerns over attempts by the European Union and the United States to propose the inclusion of tropical timbers under Appendix II of CITES at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20). Those proposals were ultimately not tabled, but he said it has sent the Malaysian industry scrambling to prepare for what many expect will be a second attempt.
“Despite the intended proposal not being included in the conference,” Tan said, they “should ensure that all relevant data is readily available to address any future potential proposals from participating parties.”
Shorea species, traded as meranti, seraya and balau, underpin Malaysia’s tropical timber value chain and are processed into sawn wood, veneer sheets, panels and plywood. And whilst an Appendix II listing would not ban the trade outright, it would impose new permit requirements, documentation and compliance costs, enough to dramatically slow the flow of Shorea-based products into markets at a time when the industry is already being squeezed.
In a letter to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad last year — written by then-MTA president George Yap — the association warned that “CITES regulations must also consider socio-economic impacts” and pledged to assist the government in preparing “technical and socio-economic counterarguments” while rallying support from regional bodies.
That letter also pointed out that “deforestation in Malaysia is driven by multiple factors, including urban development and population growth, rather than timber production alone,” describing the EU and US approach as disproportionate and urging Malaysia to present “a compelling case against the broad-brush proposal.”
It comes as Wood Central reported last year that Malaysia’s timber sector was already being hit from three sides — a domestic Sales and Service Tax (SST) that has pushed operational costs up by an estimated 8–12%, Trum’s tariffs dampening export volumes, and the since delayed (and water downed) EUDR resulting in a compliance quagmire for traders into global markets.
At the time, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, told more than 400 attendees at a Timber Exporters’ Association of Malaysia (TEAM) event: “Although export products aren’t directly taxed, rising production costs are starting to erode Malaysia’s long-standing export strength.”
The CITES proposal adds an entirely new layer.
Wood Central understands that the push to list Shorea is not driven solely by conservation. In March last year, the US-based Hardwood Federation wrote to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lobbying for both Shorea and Apitong to be added to the CITES list — arguing that “protecting Apitong is crucial for environmental conservation and maintaining international trade sustainability.”
However, the real aim, according to the Malaysians, was to promote American Red oak as a potential replacement for Southeast Asian imports in a variety of local industries, including the US military supply chain.
Wong Kar Wai, treasurer of TEAM, was direct about it at the Export Furniture Exhibition 2025. “Keruing is a special type of timber primarily used for floorboards, with the US being its main market. A major buyer is the US military, which uses Keruing for the flooring of trucks and tanks due to its durability and strength,” Wong told SunBiz. “However, the US is now looking to rely more on its local timber, particularly Red oak.”
“As a result, there are discussions about placing Keruing under CITES, which could further restrict its trade and impact exporters, particularly from Malaysia,” he said — adding that “despite being sustainably harvested and certified, Shorea and Apitong face potential trade restrictions under the guise of conservation.”
Last year, Wood Central reported that the US Department of Defence had already developed a Red oak-based trailer decking prototype to replace Keruing, whilst the National Defence Authorisation Act had already classified Apitong as endangered and called for a transition to domestically sourced alternatives. “The timber sector now faces two major threats — tariffs and the potential CITES listing — which could severely impact trade,” Wong said.
- To read more about the impact of tariffs, taxes and CITES on Malaysia’s timber trade, click here for Wood Central’s special feature. For more on how the CITES ruling could drive up timber prices for Australian consumers, click here.
