Commerce Seeks Public Comment on Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States
November 4, 2009The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is soliciting public comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States during the period January 1 through June 30, 2009. Written comments (original and six copies) should be sent to the Secretary of Commerce, Attn: James Terpstra, Import Administration, APO/ Dockets Unit, Room 1870, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230.
On June 18, 2008, Section 805 of Title VIII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was enacted into law. Under this provision, the Secretary of Commerce is mandated to submit to the appropriate Congressional committees a report every 180 days on any subsidies provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States, including stumpage subsidies. Commerce submitted its first subsidy report to Congress on December 15, 2008, and its second subsidy report on June 15, 2009. As part of its newest report, Commerce intends to include a list of subsidy programs identified by the public. For more details, see the notice published in the Federal Register.
Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and softwood lumber products to the United States, we are soliciting public comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted for at least one percent of total U.S. imports of softwood lumber by quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule Subheading 4407.10.01 (which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the period January 1 through June 30, 2009. Official U.S. import data published by the United States International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb indicate that exports of softwood lumber from Canada, Chile, Germany, Sweden, and Brazil each account for at least 1% of U.S. imports of softwood lumber products during that time period. Commerce intend to rely on similar previous 6-month periods to identify the countries subject to future reports on softwood lumber subsidies. For example, Commerce will rely on U.S. imports of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products during the period July 1 through December 31, 2009, to select the countries subject to the next report.
For further information, contact: James Terpstra, Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; Phone: (202) 482-3965.
