Oct 02, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. Speaker in Russia’s State Duma, Boris Gryzlov, said parliament was ready to elaborate and adopt a new law on the total ban of all round timber exports, Barents observer reported. During a visit to Irkutsk, Mr. Gryzlov said the recent raise of Russian export tariffs on timber has not helped stagger the transport of timber across the border to China. He ascribed the continuing timber trade to extensive smuggling. He believes only a total ban will be able to stop the illegal trade. Russia has over the last year strongly increased timber export tariffs. Next year, the tariffs will amount to Euro 50 per cubic meter, an increase of more than 100% compared with the original tariff level. The tariff policy has strongly hurt Finland which has been one of the biggest importers of Russian timber. Finnish paper and pulp industry has been forced to dismiss thousands of workers following the decreased access to raw materials.