ReNews -- Remodelors Council News - 05/30/2003 (Plain Text Version)

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World Trade Organization Rejects U.S. Duties on Canadian Lumber

In a victory for housing affordability and free trade, the WTO ruled in favor of Canada regarding the softwood lumber dispute. The international trade panel concluded that countervailing duties imposed by the U.S. Commerce Department on imports of Canadian softwood lumber were based on a flawed methodology and that the tariffs should be rescinded.

American consumers are currently paying duties totaling more than 27% on Canadian lumber shipments into the U.S. This includes roughly 19% countervailing and 8% anti-dumping duties. The current duties can add more than $1,000 to the cost of building a new home, imposing a hidden tax on American home buyers, renters and consumers. The decision to impose the duties was based solely on a hypothetical “threat of injury,” and offered no proof that the U.S. forestry industry had suffered real harm resulting from Canadian softwood imports.

This week's WTO decision applies to the countervailing duties, with the trade body supporting Canada's claim that its logging practices are not subsidized by the government, that the cross-border comparisons that the U.S. government used to make its case was wrong and that Washington's claim of a subsidy is therefore groundless. In order for a countervailing duty to be imposed, the U.S. Commerce Department must find that foreign producers receive government subsidies, and the U.S. International Trade Commission must find that U.S. producers are injured or threatened with injury.

The WTO is expected to issue a final ruling on the U.S. subsidy determination next month, around the same time that a NAFTA panel will weigh in on the issue. Canada has also filed WTO and NAFTA challenges to overturn the anti-dumping duties now in effect. Bipartisan resolutions now pending in both the House and Senate also call for the WTO and NAFTA cases to proceed expeditiously and for “open trade between the United States and Canada on softwood lumber free of trade restraints that harm consumers.”

Home building and remodeling account for two-thirds of domestic lumber consumption and lumber is the primary material used in home building. Because there are not enough trees available to produce lumber for home building in the U.S., Canadian lumber imports are essential for the construction of affordable new homes and to make improvements on existing homes in America. The U.S. relies on Canada for approximately one-third of the lumber it needs.

Economist Sees Boom in Remodeling

American Institute of Architects chief economist Kermit Baker believes home remodeling will surpass new construction before the end of the decade. Remodeling already accounts for 51% of construction work in the Northeast, while both improvements and tear-downs are on the rise in the suburbs of the South and West. Baker, also an economist for Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing, believes affluent home owners and buyers continue to drive the market. In fact, the top 20% of households have watched their earnings rise 50% since 1975 to an average of nearly $150,000. Baker attributes the success of the housing market to low interest rates and wealthy baby boomers, but he expects a few shifts in housing demand in the coming years. Demand for second homes is currently strong; but overall demand could diminish as the smaller baby bust population — born from 1964 to 1975 — enters the market, rising again when the large baby boom echo generation of the 1980s and 1990s comes of age. (http//:www.copelynews.com)
Copley News Service (05/10/03) Showley, Roger M.

This story was provided by Information, Inc. For legal information regarding copyrights to this story, click here. [return to top]

Spring Board Meetings Lay Groundwork For This Year's Projects

The Spring Board Meetings have come and gone and Fall Board will be here before too long. Here are the latest developments coming out of the May meetings:

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist Board of Governors

  • The Consultant Board members in attendance included the chair of the NAHB Seniors Housing Council and representatives from the AARP and the Administration Office on Aging.
  • There are 163 CAPS Graduates and 32 classes scheduled for 2003.
  • Nine new instructors graduated from the second CAPS instructor training on May 6.
  • An all-new CAPS consumer brochure is now available.

Certified Graduate Remodelor Board of Governors

  • The focus for 2003 is making CGR courses more available.
  • University of Housing staff made a presentation on Blueprint for Success, a new workshop designed to assist state and local HBAs in developing successful educational programs.
  • The CGR Board has been charged with encouraging or assisting their local and/or state HBAs in developing an educational program.
  • Bob Bell, CGR, was presented with a plaque recognizing his outstanding service to the CGR program.
  • Staff is revising the CGR candidate brochure.

Education and Business Development Committee

  • Reviewed the 2004 IBS Remodelors Council education session proposals.
  • Out of a total of 24 submitted proposals, 18 were selected and ranked by the committee.
  • Selected proposals will be forwarded to the NAHB Education Committee for final selection/approval.
  • Richard Dooley from the NAHB Research Center advised the committee of the new Energy Efficiency course for Remodelors that is in the development stages.

Past Chairs

  • The committee has interviewed a few people for the observer position.
  • Still actively looking for people for the observer or trustee position. Contact Karen Miller or Alan Hanbury if interested.
  • The Past Chairs now will be known as the Leadership and Development committee.

Membership

  • The current membership figure for the Remodelors Council is 6,432 members as of May 7.
  • The new council mentoring program continues.
  • Five new councils have started and seven more in the pipeline.
  • Reviewed membership numbers by local.

Public Affairs

  • Committee is working with Rebuilding Together to co-sponsor a project at the Remodelers' Show .
  • Also working with Rebuilding Together to coordinate our activities for next year's National Home Remodeling Month.
  • Work has begun on a disaster relief package to be distributed to local councils.
  • The Hall of Fame judges were selected and nominations will be accepted until July 11.
  • A new CADRE brochure that was developed by Professional Remodeler was presented by Kim Sweet.
 [return to top]

Numbers Are in For National Membership Day

With 364 locals calling in 5,512 new members, Membership Day on May 5 was a resounding success. It was evident that the association had become stronger and better than ever following NAHB's all-out membership drive during Spring Board week. Everyone who contributed to driving overall membership to 211,000 deserves special acknowledgement. Special congratulations go to the HBAs in Florida, California and Tennessee, where 100% of locals participated. The HBA of Pierce County called in the most new Council members and overall, the Remodelors Council brought in 95 new pledges. [return to top]

Housing Quality Awards Are Now Accepting Remodeler Entries

Residential remodelers in the United States, including full-service and specialty remodelers, can now participate in the National Housing Quality (NHQ) Awards, the highest recognition by the housing industry for quality achievement. The remodeling category has been added to existing categories for builders and trade contractors.

Sponsored by the NAHB Research Center and the Reed Residential Group, which is the publisher of Professional Remodeler and Professional Builder magazines, the awards recognize the role of customer-focused quality in construction, business management, sales, design and warranty service.

The competition is modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Companies participating in the awards gain insight into their businesses through the application process and feedback from the judges. The awards will be presented at next year's International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, and winners will be featured in Professional Remodeler and Professional Builder.

To request an application package, contact Rita Knab. Entries for the remodeling awards must be received by Sept. 1. [return to top]

CADRE Entry Form Is on the Way

Each year, the Remodelors Council recognizes the local councils and talented members that have demonstrated the highest levels of community and industry involvement, program innovation and commitment to education. The Council Awards for Demonstrating Remodeling Excellence, or CADRE awards, bring national recognition to local Remodelors Councils and share their best practices across the country. They also give locals some serious bragging rights for an entire year.

The 2003 CADRE entry forms are now being distributed to local councils. Please take the time to nominate the people who have worked tirelessly to promote remodeling to their members, to the public and to the rest of the housing industry. If your council has developed a new program that deserves national recognition then make sure you throw its name in the hat. The deadline for CADRE entries is September 2. The CADRE winners will be presented along with the Remodelor of the Year at the Remodelers' Show in Baltimore, October 23-25. [return to top]

New Web Site Offers Help with Environmental Compliance

NAHB and three other national trade associations have been working with EPA's Office of Compliance for over two years to develop an environmental compliance assistance Web site for builders, developers and contractors. The Web site, called the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center, is organized by environmental topic with separate sections covering stormwater, construction debris, hazardous waste, air, wetlands, endangered species and green building. 

NAHB staff is eager to hear what you think about the site. Please contact Amy Ericksen or Marolyn Parson to share your opinions and ideas for making it better.  [return to top]

Member Advantage: Save Up to 20% on Postage

Members can eliminate time-consuming trips to the post office for stamps and to weigh packages while saving up to 20% on postage costs with a Pitney-Bowes Personal Post postage meter. 

For more information, or to order, call toll free 888-253-7900. Mention reference # 9999 99 101.

For all the money-saving discounts that benefit your business, your employees and your family, go to Member Advantage [return to top]

Remodelors Council Thanks Our Strategic Partners

The Remodelors Council would like to thank the following 2003 IPRO/Strategic Partners for their generosity and support of our programs and services:

For more information about sponsorship opportunites or to receive an IPRO sponsorship brochure, contact Therese Crahan. [return to top]

For more information or to contact us directly, please visit www.NAHB.org | ©2003, National Association of Home Builders