Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697705732136.pdf (Canada)
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2008 Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group Comments on Lumber Provisions in the 2008 US Farm Bill "In our view, the proposed US Importer Declaration Program is unnecessary" Today, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group (IPG) voiced its concern about the proposed US Importer Declaration Program included in the trade title of the 2008 US Farm Bill.
The proposed Program would impose new and potentially onerous information and declaration requirements for US lumber importers.
In particular, importers would be required to: provide the export price of the lumber and the estimated export charge applied to the lumber; declare that they made an appropriate inquiry to get the documentation from the exporter and consulted the Department of Commerce publication on export charges; and declare that – to the best of their knowledge and belief – the export price was appropriately calculated and is consistent with the price on the export permit as well as that the exporter has paid or committed to pay the export charges.
Penalties would be applied to importers who knowingly violate the provisions, and company audits would be permitted.

"We believe that the proposed Importer Declaration Program – which we understand was added to the 2008 Farm Bill late in the process – would adversely affect consumers and businesses," said Senator Jerry Grafstein, Co-Chair of the IPG.
"In our view, processes could be duplicated and the administration of the existing Softwood Lumber Agreement between Canada and the United States – with which Canada believes it is fully compliant – would become more complex.

I believe that the result could be increased costs and delays at a time when our countries need to be working together to become more productive, efficient and competitive."

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Rob Merrifield, M.P., Co-Chair of the IPG, continued: "The proposed Program also has the potential to cause harm for US supply chains that rely on Canadian lumber as well as American consumers who want to purchase a home.

Members of the IPG will be in touch with US federal legislators who support the proposed Program, in the hope that they can be convinced that the Program would increase costs as well as harm US businesses and consumers.
We will also be speaking with those who support the Canadian view on this issue.

Clearly, we agree with those who believe that the proposed Program is unnecessary and may, in fact, violate our bilateral Softwood Lumber Agreement."

It should be noted that the views expressed in this news release are unique to the Canadian arm of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, and as such are not reflective of the views of our United States counterparts.
The Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group aims to find points of convergence in respective national policies, to initiate dialogue on points of divergence, to encourage the exchange of information, and to promote better understanding among legislators on shared issues of concern.

Additional information on the Group can be found at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/iia/Association.aspx?Lang=E&DCId=4&DTId=6&P=overview&OR GId=1383.

-30- For further information: Hon.


Jerry Grafstein, Senator, Co-Chair, Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group 613-992-2642 Mr.

Rob Merrifield, M.P., Co-Chair, Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group 613-992-1653 Ms. Émilie Thivierge, Executive Secretary, Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group 613-943-9770 Ms. Elizabeth Kingston, Executive Secretary, Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group 613-944-4238