ITA Seeks Comments on January-June 2012 Foreign Softwood Lumber Subsidies

November 5, 2012 by Brian Feito|Commerce Dept.

The International Trade Administration is seeking comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the U.S. during the period Jan. 1 through June 30, 2012. Comments are due by Dec. 6.

Comments Sought as Part of SLA 2008 Reporting Requirements

According to the ITA, the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008¹ requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide a report to the appropriate congressional committees every 180 days on any subsidies provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products. As part of its report to Congress, the ITA intends to include a list of subsidy programs identified with sufficient clarity by the public in response to this notice.

Only on Countries that Supply at Least 1% of U.S. Imports

Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and softwood lumber products to the U.S., the ITA said, it is soliciting public comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted for at least 1 percent of total U.S. imports of softwood lumber by quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule 4407.10.01 (which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the period Jan. 1 through June 30, 2012.

U.S. import data published by the International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb indicates that only exports of softwood lumber from Canada account for at least 1 percent of U.S. imports of softwood lumber products during that time period.

¹The SLA 2008 was part of the 2008 Farm Bill, Public Law 110-246.

(See ITT's Online Archives 08081410 for summary of the SLA 2008 reporting requirement.

See ITT’s Online Archives 09122420 for summary of a GAO report that agencies see little benefit from SLA 2008 reporting requirements.

See ITT’s Online Archives 10082612 for summary of a CBP final rule which requires additional data elements, declarations, and recordkeeping requirements for certain imports of softwood lumber exported from any country into the U.S.)

ITA contact - James Terpstra (202) 482-3965

(FR Pub 11/06/12)