CBP Announces August 18th Effective Date for New Softwood Lumber Import Data/Declaration Requirements

(The 2008 Farm Bill (P.L. 110-246), enacted June 18, 2008, contains the SLA 2008.)

CBP states that for importations of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products, as described in the SLA 2008, on or after August 18, 2008, CBP will require:

• the export price¹ for each shipment, calculated as specified by the SLA 2008;
• estimated export charges², if any, applicable to each shipment;
• a declaration³ by the importer regarding the determination of export price and the payment of any export charge.

Data Elements Needed for Each 7501 Line of Lumber/Products; Record Retention

These elements must be submitted for each line of imported softwood lumber and softwood lumber products subject to the SLA 2008 on the entry summary, CBP Form 7501.

CBP Form 7501 and any supporting documentation must be retained by the importer in accordance with CBP record keeping requirements and be produced upon request.

Information is Required for All Importations of Subject Lumber/Products Regardless of Country of Export or Origin

CBP states that this information is required for all importations of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products described in section 804 of the SLA 2008, regardless of country of export or origin.

CBP is Making ABI System Changes to Implement New Requirements

CBP recently issued a CSMS message providing the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system requirements for the additional trade data elements associated with the softwood lumber import data/declaration.

CBP sources expect the ABI system changes to be completed by August 18, 2008, and will notify the trade in a future CSMS message when this occurs.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/31/08 news, 08073115, for BP summary of CBP's CSMS message on the ABI system requirements for the softwood lumber importer declaration program.)

More Details Available in Earlier ITT Summary

Broker Power published a more detailed summary of the SLA 2008 and its reporting requirements in the August 14, 2008 issue of International Trade Today, 08081410.

¹Export price means either (i) in the case of softwood lumber or a softwood lumber product that has undergone only primary processing, the value that would be determined Free On Board (F.O.B.) at the facility where the product underwent the last primary processing before export; or (ii) in the case of softwood lumber or a softwood lumber product described in Section 802(5)(A)(ii)(II), the value that would be determined F.O.B. at the facility where the lumber or product underwent the last primary processing, etc.

²Export charges means any tax, charge, or other fee collected by the country from which softwood lumber or a softwood lumber product, described in Section 804(a), is exported pursuant to an international agreement entered into by that country and the U.S.

³Section 803 of the Act requires the establishment of a softwood lumber importer declaration program. The program shall require importers of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products described in Section 804(a) to provide certain information and declare the information, and require that such information accompany the entry summary documentation.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/14/08 news, 08081410, for BP summary announcing that CBP may implement new softwood lumber import data/declaration as soon as August 18, 2008.)

CBP alert on the new data elements (dated 08/14/08) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/alerts/alert_softwood_lumber.xml

CBP news release on the SLA 2008 reporting requirements (dated 08/14/08) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/08142008_5.xml