BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 



^^^ 3 9999 05018 545 i 



SFPA Comments 

 Page 2 



FAS domestic staff have worked diligently on behalf of the U.S. wood products industry to 

 put wood products on an equal footing with the other agricultural commodities under the GSM 

 and P.L. 480 program, but have been stymied at every turn. The U.S. wood products 

 industry has become a net exporter of wood products rather than a net importer, thereby 

 helping the balance of trade. Also, wood products expom helped to keep many people 

 employed during this past recessionary and slow recovery period. SFPA believes greater 

 export levels could have been achieved if wood products were allowed access to the GSM-103 

 and P.L. 480 programs. 



Therefore, to enhance the ability of the U.S. wood products industry to expand exports, SFPA 

 requests that the following changes be made in the GSM and P.L. 480 programs: 



1 . Extend the credit terms for U.S. wood products under the GSM-102 program to three 

 (3) years. 



2. Include U.S. wood products as an eligible commodity to be sold under the GSM-103 

 program. Furthermore, direct FAS to actively plan and use the credits for framing 

 lumber and panel products sold to Mexican companies for wood frame constructed 

 houses. ■ ■ , 



3. Include U.S. wood products as an eligible commodity to be sold under the P.L. 480 

 program. Furthermore, direct FAS to actively plan and use the credits for framing 

 lumber and panel products sold to Mexico for wood frame constructed houses. 



