Commerce Seeks Comments on Foreign Softwood Lumber Subsidies

The Commerce Department seeks public comments on any subsidies, including stumpage, paid by certain countries that exported softwood lumber to the U.S. between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2018. Comments are due June 10. The Softwood Lumber Act of 2008 requires Commerce to submit a report every 180 days on any subsidy provided by nations exporting softwood lumber or softwood products to the U.S., including subsidies for stumpage. Commerce is seeking input on subsidies paid by countries whose exports composed at least 1 percent of total U.S. softwood imports by quantity, as classified under tariff schedule subheading 4407.10.01, the agency said. International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb information indicates that four countries -- Brazil, Canada, Germany and Sweden -- exported that much softwood lumber to the U.S. during that six-month period.