On October 19, 2018, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Commerce, published in the Federal Register a document [Docket No. ITA-2018-0002] seeking 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, 2018, through June 30, 2018.
Section 805 of Title VIII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) requires Commerce to submit to the appropriate Congressional committees a report every 180 days on any subsidy provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States, including stumpage subsidies. Commerce submitted its last subsidy report on June 20, 2018. As part of its newest report, Commerce intends to include a list of subsidy programs identified with sufficient clarity by the public in response to this notice.
Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and softwood lumber products to the United States, Commerce is soliciting public comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted for at least one percent of total US imports of softwood lumber by quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule code 4407.1001 (which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the period January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2018. See the notice for definitions of a subsidy and other information.
Comments must be submitted within 30 days after publication of the notice.
