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From 30 December 2024, the European Union Deforestation-free Products Regulation (EUDR) must be applied. Smallholders are also indirectly affected by the EUDR if they do not want to lose access to the EU market. In this policy paper, we first provide a brief overview of the challenges faced by smallholders regarding the higher requirements and also evaluate a series of targeted interviews with representatives of various industries and organisations that have already gained experience with the introduction of higher sustainability standards for smallholders and the traceability of supply chains.

China's recent international commitments and domestic approaches to mitigating the environmental and social threats associated with global deforestation are plentiful but not sufficient, especially when compared to its peer and competitor, the EU. Our innovative flashcards provide key recommendations on how to strengthen the systematic approach to curate further dialogue and co-operation with stakeholders, especially by highlighting the key ministries' roles in greening the global supply chain. Ultimately, we encourage China to advance its commitment and policy to reduce global deforestation resulting from soft commodity supply chains.

In this Opinion Paper, Fabián Andrés León Peñuela and Valentina Muñoz Bernal from the Business and Human Right Resource Center in Colombia take a look at the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) that was passed by the EU in March 2024. The Act aims to ensure a secure, diversified, affordable, and sustainable supply of 37 minerals considered critical or indispensable for strategic sectors of the Union, such as renewable energy, digital, space, defence, and health industries.