COMMERCE DEPARTMENT FILES MOTION WITH NAFTA PANEL ON SOFTWOOD LUMBER IMPORTS FROM CANADA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On October 5, 2005, the NAFTA Panel reviewing the Commerce Department’s final determination in the countervailing duty investigation on softwood lumber issued its decision on the Department’s July 7, 2005, Fourth Remand Determination. The Panel remanded to the Department the Fourth Remand Determination with respect to log seller profit.

Today the Commerce Department filed motions with the Panel requesting clarification of the Panel’s October 5 decision and requesting an extension of time to file our Fifth Remand Determination until such time as the Panel provides the requested clarification. The filing of these motions does not change the current cash deposit rate in effect.

“This administration is fully committed to NAFTA and to coming to a lasting agreement with Canada to resolve this dispute,” said Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez. “The Department has requested clarification because we have significant questions about the methodology applied by the NAFTA panel."