IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 454

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding housing affordability and urging

fair and expeditious review by international trade tribunals to ensure

a competitive North American market for softwood lumber.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 26, 2002

Mr. KOLBE (for himself and Mr. HOYER) submitted the following concurrent

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding housing affordability and urging fair and expeditious review by international trade tribunals to ensure a competitive North

American market for softwood lumber.

Whereas since 1989 the United States and Canada have

worked to eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to trade;

Whereas free trade has greatly benefited the United States

and Canadian economies;

Whereas, with respect to importation of Canadian lumber,

the United States International Trade Commission only

found the potential for a threat of injury (as opposed to

actual injury) to domestic lumber producers, but the Department of Commerce imposed a 27 percent duty on
2

•HCON 454 IH

such Canadian lumber, to be paid by United States lumber consumers;

Whereas trade restrictions on Canadian lumber exported to

the United States market have been an exception to the

general rule of bilateral free trade;

Whereas the legitimate interests of consumers are often overlooked in trade disputes;

Whereas the availability of affordable housing is important to

United States home buyers and the need for the availability of such housing, particularly in metropolitan cities

across the United States, is growing faster than it can

be met;

Whereas imposition of special duties on United States consumers of softwood lumber, essential for construction of

on-site and manufactured homes, jeopardizes housing affordability;

Whereas the United States has agreed to abide by dispute

settlement procedures in the World Trade Organization

(WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA), providing for international review of national

remedy actions; and

Whereas the WTO and NAFTA dispute panels are reviewing

the aforementioned findings of the United States International Trade Commission: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) the Secretary of Commerce and the United

4 States Trade Representative should work to assure

5 that no delays occur in resolving the current dis-
3

•HCON 454 IH

1 putes before the World Trade Organization and

2 North American Free Trade Agreement trade dis3 pute panels involving the imposition of special duties

4 on softwood lumber imported from Canada, sup5 porting a fair and expeditious review;

6 (2) United States antidumping and counter7 vailing duties are a rules-based system that should

8 proceed to conclusion in World Trade Organization

9 and North American Free Trade Agreement trade

10 dispute panels;

11 (3) the President should continue discussions

12 with the Government of Canada to promote open

13 trade between the United States and Canada on

14 softwood lumber free of trade restraints that harm

15 consumers; and

16 (4) the President should consult with all inter17 ested parties, including consumers of lumber prod18 ucts, in future discussions regarding any terms of

19 trade in softwood lumber between the United States

20 and Canada.

Æ