Commerce Seeks Comments on Foreign Softwood Lumber Subsidies

The Commerce Department seeks public comments on any subsidies, including stumpage, paid by certain countries that exported softwood lumber to the U.S. July 1 to Dec. 1, 2020, it said in a notice released April 23. The Softwood Lumber Act of 2008 requires Commerce to submit a report every 180 days on any subsidy provided by nations exporting softwood lumber or softwood products to the U.S., including subsidies for stumpage. Commerce is seeking input on subsidies paid by countries whose exports composed at least 1% of total U.S. softwood imports by quantity, as classified under tariff schedule subheadings 4407.10.01, 4407.11.00, 4407.12.00, 4407.19.05, 4407.19.06 and 4407.19.10, the agency said. International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb information indicates that five countries -- Brazil, Canada, Germany, Romania and Sweden -- exported that much softwood lumber to the U.S. during that six-month period. Comments are due May 26.