TREE Act

Key Points

• Starting January 1, 2029, the bill would make it illegal to import or sell products in the U.S. that come from deforested land. This covers a wide range of goods tied to six key commodities: cattle, cocoa, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood.
• Companies importing covered commodities would have to file a due diligence statement with Customs and Border Protection proving their products are deforestation-free. For goods from higher-risk countries, this includes providing the exact geolocation coordinates of where the product was sourced.
• The U.S. Trade Representative would rank every country by its deforestation risk level (Level I, II, or III). Imports from high-risk countries would face inspection rates of at least 9%, while moderate-risk and low-risk countries would see 3% and 1% inspection rates respectively.
• Violators could face massive fines of up to 4% of their total U.S. revenue, have their goods confiscated, and lose eligibility for federal contracts and funding for up to 12 months. Repeat or serious offenders could be banned from importing any goods into the U.S. for up to a year.
• Half the money collected from fines would go toward helping developing countries manage their forests and reduce deforestation. Countries rated as the highest deforestation risk would get priority for U.S. financial assistance related to forests.