[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57102-57103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23676]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. USTR-2011-0011]
Notice and Request for Comments: Two-Year Extension of Softwood
Lumber Agreement
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (``SLA'' or ``the
Agreement'') entered into force on October 12, 2006 and is currently
scheduled to expire on October 12, 2013. The SLA includes a provision
for extension of the Agreement for an additional two years. The United
States is considering extending the SLA through October 12, 2015.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the possible
extension of the Agreement.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments should be submitted no later
than 30 days after publication of the notice.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted electronically via the Internet
at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2011-0011. If you are
unable to provide submissions by http://www.regulations.gov, please
contact Mary Sullivan Smith at (202) 395-9404 to arrange for an
alternative method of transmission.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Sullivan Smith, Director for
Canada, (202) 395-9404, for questions concerning procedures for filing
submissions in response to this notice.
Background: The entry into force of the 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood
Lumber Agreement settled litigation in U.S. and international venues
and resulted in the revocation of antidumping and countervailing duty
orders on softwood lumber from Canada. The SLA is designed to constrain
softwood lumber exports from Canada into the United States when demand
in the United States is low. In favorable market conditions, the SLA
provides for unrestricted trade in softwood lumber.
As part of the SLA, the United States agreed to cease the
collection of antidumping and countervailing duties upon softwood
lumber from Canada and to refund US$5 billion in deposits of duties. In
exchange, Canada agreed, among other things, to apply export measures--
export charges and volume limitations--to shipments of softwood lumber
from Canada to the United States when the price of softwood products
falls below a certain level. The SLA provides for arbitration to
resolve disputes between the United States and Canada regarding the
interpretation and implementation of the Agreement. Under the SLA,
arbitration is conducted under the rules of the LCIA.
Pursuant to Article XVIII ``the SLA 2006 shall remain in force for
7 years after the Effective Date and may be extended by agreement of
the Parties for an additional 2 years.'' Without an extension, the
Agreement will expire in October 12, 2013. USTR is considering
extending the SLA for two years pursuant to the President's
constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United
States, as delegated to the USTR from the President through Executive
Orders, including Executive Order 11846 (Administration of the Trade
Agreements Program). Request for Public Comment: The USTR invites
comments from interested persons with respect to the possible extension
of the SLA 2006.
To submit comments via http://www.regulations.gov, enter docket
number USTR-2011-0011 on the home page and click ``Search''. The site
will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated
with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting
``Notice'' under ``Document Type'' the search-results page, and click
on the link entitled ``Send a Comment'' (For further information on
using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the
resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This
Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
The http://www.regulations.gov site provides the option of
providing comments by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by
attaching a document. All comments should be provided in an attached
document. Submissions must state clearly the position taken and
describe with specificity the supporting rationale and must be written
in English. After attaching the document, it is sufficient to type
``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field.
Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection
except confidential business information. Comments may be viewed on the
http://www.regulations.gov Web site by entering docket number USTR-
2011-0011 in the search field on the home page.
Persons wishing to submit business confidential information must
certify in writing that such information is confidential and such
information must be clearly marked ``Business
[[Page 57103]]
Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and each
succeeding page. Submit any documents containing business confidential
information with a file name beginning with the characters ``BC''.
Submit, as a separate submission, a public version of the submission
with a file name beginning with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and
``P'' should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting
the comments. Electronic submissions should not attach separate cover
letters; rather, information that might appear in a cover letter should
be included in the comments you submit. Similarly, to the extent
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to
a submission in the same file as the submission itself and not as
separate files.
Mary Sullivan Smith,
Director for Canadian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-23676 Filed 9-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W1-P