The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that an industry in the United States is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of softwood lumber from Canada that the Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Marcia E. Miller and Jennifer A. Hillman made affirmative determinations of threat of material injury. Commissioner Lynn M. Bragg did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative threat determinations, the Department of Commerce will issue countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Canada.

The Commission's public report Softwood Lumber from Canada (Invs. Nos. 701-TA-414 and 731-TA-928 (Final), USITC Publication 3509, May 2002) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after June 6, 2002, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202- 205-2104.

Product Description:
The product subject to these investigations is softwood lumber, flooring, and siding (softwood lumber products). Softwood lumber products comprise all products classified under subheadings 4407.10.00, 4409.10.10, 4409.10.20, and 4409.10.90 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Types of investigations: Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioners: Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports Executive Committee, Washington, DC; the
    United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Portland, OR; and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, 
    Chemical and Energy Workers International Union, Nashville, TN.
3.  Investigations initiated by USITC: April 2, 2001.
4.  Hearing: March 26, 2002.
5.  USITC vote: May 2, 2002.
6.  USITC views to U.S. Department of Commerce: May 16, 2002.
    
U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers, 2001: 779.
2.  Location of producers' plants: Scattered throughout the United States, but concentrated in
    the South and West.
3.  U.S. consumption, 2001: 53,894 million board feet.
4.  Ratio of total imports to consumption, 2001: 36.8 percent.
5.  Ratio of subject imports to consumption, 2001: 34.3 percent.

U.S. Imports:

1.  Quantity of total imports of softwood lumber products, 2001: 19,860 million board feet.
2.  Leading foreign source during 2001:  Canada (93.1 percent of the quantity imported).