CV: Canada Softwood Lumber
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a press release on its remand determination in response to a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Panel's decision regarding the final determination in the countervailing (CV) duty investigation on softwood lumber from Canada (C-122-839).
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In this remand determination, the ITA states that using revised methodology consistent with the NAFTA Panel's decision, it has calculated a CV duty rate of 13.23% (from 18.79%) which would make the combined average antidumping (AD) and CV rate 21.66% (instead of 27.22%).
Based on the revised methodology, the ITA has also determined that two companies, Scierie West Brome, Inc. and Les Produits Forestiers Dube, Inc., would be excluded from the CV duty order.
The ITA has also determined on remand that certain Maritime-origin lumber and old lumber (over 10 years old), including used railroad ties, are excluded from the scope of the order; therefore, companies that export only these products would not be subject to the order.
Remand Determination Not Yet in Effect
According to ITA sources, this remand determination is not yet in effect. If the remand determination is upheld by the NAFTA Panel, ITA sources expect, among other things, that the CV cash deposit rates would change from that date forward, and that CV duty assessment rates for entries of subject merchandise prior to that date would not be affected.
ITA sources also state there will be a 20-day period from January 12, 2004 to comment on this remand determination.
(See ITA press release, dated 01/12/04, available at http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/FactSheet/0104/lumber_011204.html)