Bolivia warns of triple damage from lumber export crisis

Bolivia's lumber exports have hit rock bottom, falling below pandemic levels in May and June, according to Gary Rodríguez, general manager of the Bolivian Foreign Trade Institute (IBCE). This sharp decline stems from accusations made in June by Chile's Arica Regional Prosecutor's Office, which alleged that Bolivian lumber shipments were tainted with cocaine. Rodríguez asserts these claims lacked scientific backing and have inflicted severe damage on the country's export image.

The consequences, Rodríguez explained, are threefold. Economically, companies face liquidity issues with containers held at borders, and export figures have plummeted. Socially, the crisis threatens the livelihoods of approximately 200,000 people directly or indirectly dependent on the forestry sector, leading some businesses to lay off staff. The reputational damage, he stressed, extends beyond individual businesses to Bolivia's standing as a trustworthy exporter.

Recent analyses have confirmed that the initial reagents used in testing produced false positives, paving the way for the release of detained trucks at borders with Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Rodríguez commended the efforts of Bolivia's Attorney General's Office and the Vice Ministry of Internal Regime for their roles in clarifying the situation. He also supported the idea of Bolivia pursuing legal action for damages and accelerating the release of seized cargo, emphasizing that "trust takes many years to build and is at stake today. Someone will have to explain the economic, social, and moral damage that has been caused."