[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 179 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57102-57103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23676]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. USTR-2011-0011]


Notice and Request for Comments: Two-Year Extension of Softwood 
Lumber Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (``SLA'' or ``the 
Agreement'') entered into force on October 12, 2006 and is currently 
scheduled to expire on October 12, 2013. The SLA includes a provision 
for extension of the Agreement for an additional two years. The United 
States is considering extending the SLA through October 12, 2015. 
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the possible 
extension of the Agreement.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments should be submitted no later 
than 30 days after publication of the notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted electronically via the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2011-0011. If you are 
unable to provide submissions by http://www.regulations.gov, please 
contact Mary Sullivan Smith at (202) 395-9404 to arrange for an 
alternative method of transmission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Sullivan Smith, Director for 
Canada, (202) 395-9404, for questions concerning procedures for filing 
submissions in response to this notice.
    Background: The entry into force of the 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood 
Lumber Agreement settled litigation in U.S. and international venues 
and resulted in the revocation of antidumping and countervailing duty 
orders on softwood lumber from Canada. The SLA is designed to constrain 
softwood lumber exports from Canada into the United States when demand 
in the United States is low. In favorable market conditions, the SLA 
provides for unrestricted trade in softwood lumber.
    As part of the SLA, the United States agreed to cease the 
collection of antidumping and countervailing duties upon softwood 
lumber from Canada and to refund US$5 billion in deposits of duties. In 
exchange, Canada agreed, among other things, to apply export measures--
export charges and volume limitations--to shipments of softwood lumber 
from Canada to the United States when the price of softwood products 
falls below a certain level. The SLA provides for arbitration to 
resolve disputes between the United States and Canada regarding the 
interpretation and implementation of the Agreement. Under the SLA, 
arbitration is conducted under the rules of the LCIA.
    Pursuant to Article XVIII ``the SLA 2006 shall remain in force for 
7 years after the Effective Date and may be extended by agreement of 
the Parties for an additional 2 years.'' Without an extension, the 
Agreement will expire in October 12, 2013. USTR is considering 
extending the SLA for two years pursuant to the President's 
constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United 
States, as delegated to the USTR from the President through Executive 
Orders, including Executive Order 11846 (Administration of the Trade 
Agreements Program). Request for Public Comment: The USTR invites 
comments from interested persons with respect to the possible extension 
of the SLA 2006.
    To submit comments via http://www.regulations.gov, enter docket 
number USTR-2011-0011 on the home page and click ``Search''. The site 
will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated 
with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting 
``Notice'' under ``Document Type'' the search-results page, and click 
on the link entitled ``Send a Comment'' (For further information on 
using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the 
resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This 
Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
    The http://www.regulations.gov site provides the option of 
providing comments by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by 
attaching a document. All comments should be provided in an attached 
document. Submissions must state clearly the position taken and 
describe with specificity the supporting rationale and must be written 
in English. After attaching the document, it is sufficient to type 
``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field.
    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection 
except confidential business information. Comments may be viewed on the 
http://www.regulations.gov Web site by entering docket number USTR-
2011-0011 in the search field on the home page.
    Persons wishing to submit business confidential information must 
certify in writing that such information is confidential and such 
information must be clearly marked ``Business

[[Page 57103]]

Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page and each 
succeeding page. Submit any documents containing business confidential 
information with a file name beginning with the characters ``BC''. 
Submit, as a separate submission, a public version of the submission 
with a file name beginning with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and 
``P'' should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting 
the comments. Electronic submissions should not attach separate cover 
letters; rather, information that might appear in a cover letter should 
be included in the comments you submit. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to 
a submission in the same file as the submission itself and not as 
separate files.

Mary Sullivan Smith,
Director for Canadian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-23676 Filed 9-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W1-P