FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2003
Contact:  Marie DesOrmeaux
(202) 225-3772
 
Pickering, Ross Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect U.S. Lumber Industry
Bill reforms trade laws to prevent unfair “dumping” of imports
 
(Washington, D.C.) Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), today joined Rep. Chip Pickering (R – Miss.) in introducing the Pickering-Ross Duty Parity Act of 2003 before the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill aims to mandate higher duties for products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico when unfair trade is found to occur.  The Congressmen chose to introduce their bill today in the hopes of opening a dialogue with Canadian government representatives who are in Washington, DC this week. 

“I am pleased to have this opportunity to work with my Republican colleague on this very serious problem,” Ross said.  “The U.S. lumber industry is in crisis.  If current market conditions continue, many lumber manufacturers will not survive the next six months.  The Pickering-Ross bill will correct a misinterpretation and misapplication of our laws against unfair trade.  While the national debate over how to best fix our economy continues, there are things we can do now that can have a huge impact on industries in crisis.  I am committed to leveling the playing field whenever possible so that lumber mills in our district and across the country have an opportunity to compete and to survive.”  

“Our lumber mills continue to lose money and cut jobs due to subsidized Canadian lumber being dumped in the U.S,” Pickering said.  “If this continues, we stand to lose a major sector of our state economy.  Our legislation will give the Administration the authority to accurately account for all subsidies and level the playing field by imposing properly valued duties.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I support free trade, but only when it's fair.” 

The legislation will have the effect of mandating higher duties for products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico when unfair trade is found to occur.  Currently, the U.S. Department of Commerce does not consider countervailing duties (CVD), the duties meant to offset subsidies, when calculating the amount of anti-dumping (AD) duties to impose.  The Pickering-Ross Act will mandate that CVD’s be counted when determining the AD, thus raising the level of duties. 

Pickering added, “The European Union and Canada both use these same methods for calculating duties called for in the Pickering-Ross bill.  We shouldn't act any differently.”   

Pickering and Ross both serve on the House Agriculture Committee, and were instrumental in past efforts to implement duties against heavily subsidized Canadian lumber imports. 


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