G/TBT/N/USA/2101  
7 March 2024  
(24-2116) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Commerce (DOC) 
[2133]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other  [X]: As part of a five -year review process, public comments are sought on a draft 
revision to a voluntary standard.  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise na tional tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Softwood 
lumber; Builders' joinery and carpentry, of wood, incl. cellular wood panels, assembled 
parquet panels, shingles and shakes, of wood (excl. plywood panelling, block s, strips and 
friezes for parquet flooring, not assembled, and pre -fabricated buildings) (HS code(s): 
4418); Quality (ICS code(s): 03.120); Wood -based panels (ICS code(s): 79.060)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Propose d 
Revision to Voluntary Product Standard (PS) 20 -20 "American Softwood Lumber 
Standard"; (2 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice and request for comments - This notice advises the 
public that the National Institute of Standards and Techn ology (NIST) is seeking 
comments for the proposed revision of Voluntary Product Standard (PS) 20 -20, "American 
Softwood Lumber Standard." This standard, prepared by the American Lumber Standard 
Committee, serves the procurement and regulatory needs of nume rous Federal, State, 
and local government agencies by providing for uniform, industry -wide grade -marking 
and inspection requirements for softwood lumber. The implementation of the standard 
also allows for uniform labeling and auditing of treated wood and, through a Memorandum 
of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, labeling and auditing of wood 
packaging materials for international trade. As part of a five -year review process, NIST is 
seeking public comment and invites interested parties t o review the revised standard and 
submit comments.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Quality requirements  G/TBT/N/USA/2101  
 
- 2 - 
 
  8. Relevant documents:   
89 Federal Register (FR) 15975, 6 March 2024:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-03-06/html/2024 -04741.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2024-03-06/pdf/2024 -04741.pdf  
DOC PS 20 -20 American Softwood Lumber Standard, Revision 1 
https://www.nist.gov/document/doc -ps-20-20-american -softwood -lumber -standard -
revision -1-oct-2021 
WTO Members an d their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT 
Enquiry Point . Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and 
their stakeholders by 4pmEastern Time  on 22 April 2024 will be shared with N IST if 
received within the comment period.  
Voluntary Product Standards Program  
https://www.nist.gov/standardsgov/voluntary -product -standards -program  
G/TBT/N/USA/1465 and Add.1  - Proposed Voluntary Product Standard 20 -15, American 
Softwood Lumber Standard  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  22 April 2024  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_0190 8_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/USA/24_01908_01_e.pdf