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 afford-
ability and urging fair and expeditious review by inter-
national 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 De-
partment of Commerce imposed a 27 percent duty on
•HCON 454 IH
such Canadian lumber, to be paid by United States lum-
ber 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 over-
looked in trade disputes;
Whereas the availability of affordable housing is important to
United States home buyers and the need for the avail-
ability 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 con-
sumers of softwood lumber, essential for construction of
on-site and manufactured homes, jeopardizes housing af-
fordability;
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 Inter-
national Trade Commission: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the Secretary of Commerce and the United
States Trade Representative should work to assure
that no delays occur in resolving the current dis-
•HCON 454 IH
putes before the World Trade Organization and
North American Free Trade Agreement trade dis-
pute panels involving the imposition of special duties
on softwood lumber imported from Canada, sup-
porting a fair and expeditious review;
(2) United States antidumping and counter-
vailing duties are a rules-based system that should
proceed to conclusion in World Trade Organization
and North American Free Trade Agreement trade
dispute panels;
(3) the President should continue discussions
with the Government of Canada to promote open
trade between the United States and Canada on
softwood lumber free of trade restraints that harm
consumers; and
(4) the President should consult with all inter-
ested parties, including consumers of lumber prod-
ucts, in future discussions regarding any terms of
trade in softwood lumber between the United States
and Canada.
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