As of 1 July, okoume veneer shipments from Gabon to the EU are no longer subject to import duties, according to plywood manufacturers and importers. Gabonese newspapers had previously reported that the exemption from duties referred to ok-oume plywood. However, this has since been denied by market insiders. With the exception of veneers, import duties, which had been raised from 3.5% to 7 % with effect from 1 January, continue to apply for timber shipments from Gabon. The rise in import duties was due to Gabon's exclusion from special conditions under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)