Table of Contents

1.1 The purpose of this Notice is to provide information to exporters about forthcoming changes to the collection of export fees for lumber exports to the United States under the Softwood Lumber Agreement (the "Agreement").

1.2 This Notice is to be read in conjunction with Notice to Exporters No. 124 of March 31, 2000, Notice to Exporters No. 120 of September 3, 1999 and Paragraph 15.4 of Notice to Exporters No. 94 of October 31, 1996.

2.1 This Notice shall remain in effect until further notice.

3.1 The Agreement provides four fee rates: the Lower Fee Base (LFB) rate of US$53.9 per thousand board feet; the "re-priced" Lower Fee Base (RFB; B.C. only) and the Upper Fee Base (UFB) rates of US $ 107.88 per thousand board feet; and the "re-priced" Upper Fee Base (SFB; B.C. only) rate of $148.27 per thousand board feet. The fees for shipments under these rates are calculated at the time of export permit issuance.

4.1 Pursuant to the Financial Administration Act and in accordance with section 10 of the Softwood Lumber Products Export Permit Fee Regulations, the fees payable for exports to the United States of softwood lumber first manufactured in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, shall be paid at the time of issuance of the export permit.

4.2 Currently, the Export and Import Controls Bureau requires that payment of softwood lumber fees be made within 30 days from the date of issue of fee rated export permits.

5.1 In order to ensure that all softwood lumber fees are collected by the end of the current Agreement, the EICB will be enforcing the authority to collect all fees at the time of permit issuance.

5.2 The anticipated date for implementing the new fee collection procedure is November 6, 2000. Exporters will be advised of complete details related to these changes in a forthcoming Notice to Exporters.

5.3 Exporters are advised that all outstanding softwood lumber fees must be paid in full by the implementation date of the new fee collection procedure.

6.1 Information on the Financial Administration Act can be found at:

6.2 Information on the Softwood Lumber Products Export Permits Fees Regulations can be found at:

7.1 For further information on fee collection, please contact the Softwood Lumber Division (EPS), Export and Import Controls Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the co-ordinates listed below or Gordon Chestnut, Operations Supervisor, telephone number (613) 996-0642.