Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports Applauds Softwood Lumber Imports Certification Legislation

    WASHINGTON, DC, May 13 /CNW Telbec/ - The Coalition for Fair Lumber
Imports today welcomes Congress's inclusion of softwood lumber importer
certification provisions as part of the 2007 Farm Bill.
    A critical component of the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA)
is Canada's obligation to impose export taxes and quotas on lumber exports to
the United States to dampen the injurious effects of unfairly traded Canadian
lumber on American sawmills and workers. However, currently available data
indicate that Canada to date has under-collected SLA export taxes by about
US$50 million.
    To address this growing discrepancy and to ensure that all lumber
imported into the United States complies with applicable trade agreements,
Congress included provisions within the Farm Bill to require U.S. enforcement
measures.
    Specifically, importers of foreign softwood lumber to the United States
will be required to certify that each shipment is consistent with the SLA and
any other relevant trade agreements. The provisions in the Farm Bill require
that importers certify, to their knowledge and belief, that required Softwood
Lumber Agreement export taxes will be paid.
    This positive development comes on the heels of a number of key senators,
including Senators Olympia Snowe of Maine, Max Baucus of Montana and Saxby
Chambliss of Georgia, expressly calling for stronger and improved enforcement
of the Softwood Lumber Agreement.
    "Senator Baucus and Senator Chambliss showed decisive and effective
leadership in the importer-certification legislation effort," said Coalition
Chairman Steve Swanson. "While the importer-certification provisions will not
solve all SLA compliance concerns, the legislation provides a critical means
for the U.S. government to enforce SLA export tax requirements."
    Swanson said the enforcement of the SLA through the
importer-certification legislation will go far toward preserving the agreement
as an effective means to dealing with Canada's continued unfair trading
practices in softwood lumber. "This legislation will require nothing more or
less than that softwood lumber imports comply with trade agreement
commitments," he said.

    About the Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports

    The U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports is an alliance of large and
small lumber producers from around the country. The Coalition is united in
opposition to Canada's unfair lumber-trade practices, including its gross
under-pricing of timber. For more information, please visit the Coalition's
website at www.fairlumbercoalition.org.

For further information: Zoltan van Heyningen, (202) 582-0021,
zoltan@4fairlumber.com