[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 202 (Thursday, October 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61714-61715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17382]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-122-839]


Notice of Rescission of Countervailing Duty Reviews and 
Revocation of Countervailing Duty Order: Certain Softwood Lumber 
Products From Canada

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 12, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric B. Greynolds, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6071.

SUMMARY: On September 12, 2006, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. 
Schwab and Canada's Minister for International Trade, David Emerson, 
signed the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA 2006). On October 12, 2006, 
the SLA 2006 entered into effect. Pursuant to the settlement of 
litigation which is a precondition for the entry into force of the SLA 
2006, the Department of Commerce (the Department) is revoking the 
countervailing duty order on certain softwood lumber products from 
Canada

[[Page 61715]]

and rescinding all ongoing proceedings related to that order.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 22, 2002, the Department published the countervailing duty 
order on certain softwood lumber from Canada. See Notice of Amended 
Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Notice of 
Countervailing Duty Order: Certain Softwood Lumber Products From 
Canada, as corrected, 67 FR 36070 (May 22, 2002). The Department 
subsequently completed the first and second administrative reviews. See 
Notice of Amended Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review: Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada, 70 FR 9046 
(February 24, 2005); see also Notice of Final Results of Countervailing 
Duty Administrative Review: Certain Softwood Lumber Products from 
Canada, 70 FR 73448 (December 12, 2005).\1\ On June 30, 2005, the 
Department published a notice of initiation of administrative review of 
the countervailing duty order on certain softwood lumber products from 
Canada, covering the period of review (POR) April 1, 2004, to March 31, 
2005 (POR 3). See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 70 FR 37749 (June 30, 2005) 
(Initiation Notice). The preliminary results for POR 3 were issued on 
June 12, 2006. See Notice of Preliminary Results and Extension of Final 
Result of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: Certain Softwood 
Lumber Products From Canada, 71 FR 33933 (June 12, 2006). On July 3, 
2006 the Department published a notice of initiation of the fourth 
administrative review of the order covering the period April 1, 2005, 
to March 31, 2006 (POR 4). See Initiation of Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 71 FR 37892 (July 3, 2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ In addition, the Department has initiated a number of 
``expedited reviews'' to establish company-specific deposit rates 
and to consider whether company-specific revocation is appropriate. 
The Department has completed many of those reviews.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On September 12, 2006, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab 
and Canada's Minister for International Trade, David Emerson, signed 
the SLA 2006. One of the conditions for entry into force of the SLA 
2006 was the settlement of litigation. On October 12, 2006, the 
government of the United States and the government of Canada exchanged 
letters indicating that the conditions for entry into force of the SLA 
2006 had been fulfilled.

Rescission Of The Reviews And Revocation Of The Order

    Pursuant to the settlement of litigation, the Department hereby 
revokes the countervailing duty order on softwood lumber from Canada, 
effective May 22, 2002, without the possibility of reinstatement. As 
the result of the revocation of the order, which is effective for the 
periods being reviewed, the Department hereby rescinds all ongoing 
proceedings related to the countervailing duty order, including the 
administrative reviews for POR 3 and POR 4, and all outstanding 
expedited reviews.
    In accordance with the terms of the SLA 2006, we will instruct U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to cease collecting cash deposits, 
as of October 12, 2006, on imports of softwood lumber products from 
Canada. Moreover, we will instruct CBP to liquidate all entries made on 
or after May 22, 2002, without regard to countervailing duties. In 
addition, we will instruct CBP to refund all deposits collected on such 
entries with accrued interest.
    This notice is in accordance with 777(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, 
as amended and 19 CFR 341.213(d)(4).

    Dated: October 12, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-17382 Filed 10-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S