Forest Products: Trade Policy Highlights


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	FOREST PRODUCTS TRADE POLICY HIGHLIGHTS - SEPTEMBER 2004
	The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Reverses Its Injury Determination in the U.S. - Canada Lumber Dispute
	On September 10, 2004, to comply with a NAFTA panel decision, the ITC reversed its threat of injury determination, finding that the U.S. softwood lumber industry is not threatened with material injury by imports from Canada. The ITC noted its objections, however, stating that it disagrees with the Panel and continues to view the Panel’s decisions as “overstepping its authority, violating the NAFTA, seriously departing from fundamental rules of procedure, and committing legal error.”

	EU to Publish New Import Requirements for Wood Packaging Material
	The European Commission’s Standing Committee for Plant Health has approved new import requirements for wood packaging materials (WPM) that are likely to be adopted by the EU later this month. The new rules will require WPM entering the EU on or after March 1, 2005, to be heat-treated or fumigated, and marked, in accordance with the international standard approved by the International Plant Protection Convention in March 2002. However, in a departure from the international standard, the EU will also require that WPM be made from debarked wood to address what it perceives to be the risk of re-infestation. However, the EU has offered no evidence to date to justify the additional requirement, as is required by the international standard.