Certain Softwood Lumber Products From Canada: Notice of Panel Decision, Revocation of Countervailing Duty Order and Termination of Suspension of Liquidation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-122-816]

Certain Softwood Lumber Products From Canada: Notice of Panel

Decision, Revocation of Countervailing Duty Order and Termination of

Suspension of Liquidation

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Panel Decision, Revocation of Countervailing Duty

Order and Termination of Suspension of Liquidation.

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SUMMARY: On February 23, 1994, the Binational Panel convened under the

United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement issued a decision affirming

the Department of Commerce's (the Department) determination issued

pursuant to remand that the Canadian provincial governments were not

providing countervailable subsidies to producers or exporters of

certain softwood lumber products. The United States requested that an

Extraordinary Challenge Committee (ECC) be convened to review the

Binational Panel's decision. On August 3, 1994, the ECC affirmed the

Binational Panel's February 23, 1994, order affirming the Department's

redetermination. Therefore, we are revoking the countervailing duty

order on certain softwood lumber products from Canada and ordering the

termination of suspension of liquidation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 16, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Parkhill or Norbert Gannon,

Office of Countervailing Compliance, Import Administration,

International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th

Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230;

telephones: (202) 482-4126; (202) 482-2786.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 28, 1992, the Department determined that the Canadian

provincial governments were providing countervailable subsidies to

producers and exporters of certain softwood lumber products (57 FR

22570). On July 6, 1992, the International Trade Commission notified

the Department of its determination that a U.S. industry was being

materially injured by reason of imports of certain softwood lumber

products from Canada. On July 13, 1992, the Department published in the

Federal Register (57 FR 30955) the countervailing duty order on certain

softwood lumber products from Canada.

The Department's determination was reviewed by a Binational Panel

under the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement. The Binational

Panel remanded the determination to the Department and ordered it to

find that no countervailable subsidies were being provided to softwood

lumber producers or exporters by the Canadian provincial governments.

The Department filed its amended redetermination, which the Binational

Panel affirmed. The Binational Panel's decision became final on March

17, 1994 (59 FR 12584). The United States requested that an ECC be

convened to review the Binational Panel's decision. On August 3, 1994,

the ECC affirmed the Binational Panel's Order Affirming the

Determination on Remand. Therefore, we are revoking the countervailing

duty order on certain softwood lumber products from Canada, effective

March 17, 1994, and ordering the U.S. Customs Service to terminate the

suspension of liquidation on all entries made on or after that date.

Cash deposits made prior to March 17, 1994 are not addressed in this

notice.

Termination of Suspension of Liquidation

The Department will instruct the U.S. Customs Service to terminate

the suspension of liquidation of certain softwood lumber products from

Canada, effective March 17, 1994, to cease collection of cash deposits

on certain softwood lumber products from Canada, and to proceed with

liquidation of the subject merchandise which entered the United States

on or after March 17, 1994, without regard to countervailing duties.

Dated: August 12, 1994.

Paul L. Joffe,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-20230 Filed 8-15-94; 8:45am]

BILLING CODE 3510-05-P