AMS Again Sets Small Importer Exemption From Softwood Lumber Assessments

The Agricultural Marketing Service will continue its 15 million board feet de minimis threshold under the softwood lumber information order, it said in a final rule. As provided in the 2011 final rule creating the softwood lumber order (see 11080216), importers that import less than 15 million board feet of softwood lumber are exempt from assessments, as long as they apply annually for a certificate of exemption and provide documentation to support their request. A federal court in 2016 had struck down the 15 million board feet threshold, finding the number arbitrary, but left the softwood lumber regulations in place while AMS reconsidered. The new final rule takes effect Nov. 27.