Senate Finance Comittee Request Letter

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COMMIlTEE ON FINANCE
WASHINGTON,

RU39ELL4ULUVAN.6 T F F O I R C M A
KOUN UAVlS, WPUPUCAN STAFFDMECTOR AND

DC 2051(1-6200

CHEF COUNSEL

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February28,2 07
The Honorable Dadel R. Pearson
Chailnlan
U.S. International Trade Commission
500 E Street, SW
Washington,DC 20436

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Dear Chairman Pearson:

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In order to gain a better understanding of the trends and new dev p& .in.thegbWieB.fleoring and
hardwood plywood industries, the Committee requests, pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, that
the U.S.International Trade Commission institute an investigation and provide a report on the competitive
conditions affecting the U.S.wood flooring and hardwood plywood industries during tlie period from 20022006. The Commission’s report on this investigation should provide to the extent possible, the folxowjng:
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An overview oftheUS,markets for solid and engineered wood flooring (both unfmbhed and factoIy

finished products), and hardwood plywood;
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A description of the U.S. industries for wood flooring and hardwood pIpood and the industries in the
principal coudt~%s(including Canada, China,Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia) suppJyhg the U.S.
market, including trends in production, capacity, employment, and consumption;
An examination of US.trade patterns and the €actors affecting trade patterns, including tariffs and other
border measures;

An analysis of the factors affectingthe competitiveposition of US. producers and the principal foreign
suppliers to the U.S. market including raw materials, illegal logging, technolo$cal capabilities, labor
practices, environmentd policies, government programs, and substitutes for wood flooring and
hardwood plywood;
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Views of industry,homebuilden, importers and other interestedparties on developments in the supplg3
of and the demand for wood flooring and hardwood plywood, inGluding tlie effect of imports and
substitutes for each product.
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The Commission should submit its report to the Committee not Iater than fifieerl months fromthe receipt of fld?
request. The Committee intends to make the report available to the public in its entirety. Therefore, I request h
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the report not include any confidentialbusiness information. The Comi~sion’sassistance in this matter is 9
greatly appreciated.
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