Forest Products: Trade Policy Highlights


What's New? \| Trade Data \| Country Reports \| Market News \| Trade Policy \| Publications \| Coming Events \| Helpful Links

	FOREST PRODUCTS TRADE POLICY HIGHLIGHTS - NOVEMBER 2003

	Mexico Announces Final Standard on New Sawn Lumber
	On July 25, the Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) published in the Diario Oficial the final standard for the importation of new sawn lumber. New and air-dried lumber coming or originating from the United States will require a certificate specifying that the wood received treatment at origin against pests and diseases. (It can also be treated at the border.) Kiln-dried new sawn lumber originating or coming from the United States will require a certificate of heat treatment indicating that the lumber has been dried in a kiln.

	WTO Releases Final Report on Canada’s Challenge of Countervailing Duty on Softwood Lumber
	On August 29, 2003, the WTO released its final panel report on Canada’s challenge of the U.S. countervailing duty determination regarding Canadian softwood lumber. As in the interim report, the panel affirmed the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) finding that Canada’s stumpage system constituted a financial contribution to its lumber industry, but ruled against the United States on the use of cross-border benchmarks in calculating the amount of the subsidy. On March 22, 2002, DOC announced a countervailing duty rate of 18.79 percent and antidumping margins ranging from 2.18 to 12.44 percent. A final report on Canada’s challenge of the antidumping determination is not expected before December 2003.

	Department of Commerce (DOC) Responds to NAFTA Panel Remand On Softwood Lumber
	On October 16, 2003, the DOC released the results of the remand from the NAFTA Panel concerning the softwood lumber antidumping case. DOC lowered the country-wide rate (applicable to all companies that were not individually reviewed) from 8.43 to 8.07 percent ad valorem. It is now up to the NAFTA panel to accept DOC’s findings, or to remand the case again. In March 2002, DOC announced antidumping margins ranging from 2.18 to 12.44 percent, 8.43 percent for companies not individually reviewed.

	APHIS Amending Target Date For Implementation of New Import Requirements for Wood Packing Material
	On October 30, 2003, USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it was revising the implementation date for its new import requirements for solid wood packaging material (SWPM) from January 1, 2004 to April or May 2004. Notwithstanding, starting in January 2004, APHIS will begin issuing notices to National Plant Protection Organizations for SWPM entering the United States that is found to be in non-compliance with the new requirements. The notices will serve as an informational dissemination tool. On May 20, 2003, APHIS announced in the Federal Register it intended to amend its regulations to require that all SWPM entering the United States either be heat-treated or fumigated, and marked accordingly, consistent with the International Plant Protection Convention’s Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade.

	U.S. Furniture Manufacturers Seek Protection from Chinese Imports
	On October 31, the American Furniture Manufacturers Committee for Legal Trade filed an antidumping petition to address a surge of imported wooden bedroom furniture from China. The U.S. International Trade Commission must reach a preliminary determination by December 15, 2003 and deliver its views to the Department of Commerce within five business days. Between 1999 and 2002, imports of wooden bedroom furniture from China increased from $170 million to $818 million. Many domestic furniture manufacturers, particularly in North Carolina, have had to reduce work forces, close plants, and in some cases, relocate manufacturing to China and Southeast Asia. According to the Department of Labor, the U.S. wood furniture industry’s labor force decreased 25 percent over the last three years.