For Immediate Release:March 17, 2006
Contact:Jennifer
Scoggins (202) 482-3809
STATEMENT ON NAFTA PANEL DECISION ON
SOFTWOOD LUMBER FROM CANADA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - David Spooner, U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant
Secretary for Import Administration, released the following statement
on the decision by the NAFTA Panel affirming the U.S. Department of Commerce's
Fifth Remand Determination in the countervailing duty investigation on
softwood lumber from Canada:
"Today the NAFTA Panel affirmed our compliance with its earlier
instructions consistent with our NAFTA obligations. However, we continue
to not agree with the Panel's rationale. We will continue to enforce our
trade laws to ensure that U.S. industry receives relief from unfair imports
and we believe that a durable, negotiated resolution is the best way to
resolve this dispute with Canada."
Background: The remand determination was in response to instructions
previously given by the Panel with respect to log seller profit. Although
the Department did not agree with the Panel's rationale in its instructions,
the Department complied with the Panel's instructions and calculated a
country-wide subsidy rate of 0.80 percent, which is de minimis.
The United States is considering challenging the Panel's decisions before
an Extraordinary Challenge Committee, as allowed under NAFTA.