WASHINGTON, D.C. ?EUR??,,????'??+ A recent ruling by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) calling on the International Trade Commission (ITC) to reconsider whether the domestic lumber industry faces a threat from Canadian softwood lumber shipments is good news for American home buyers and lumber consumers, according to the nation?EUR??,,????'???s home builders. ?EUR??,,????'??In May of 2002, the ITC ruled that the U.S. lumber industry was threatened with injury by imports from Canada,?EUR??,,????'?? said Bobby Rayburn, first vice president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) ?EUR??,,????'??That action triggered 27 percent tariffs on Canadian lumber imports, which have harmed housing affordability, American home buyers, renters and consumers.?EUR??,,????'?? The 115-page NAFTA decision essentially states that the ITC did not provide adequate explanation or support for its finding, and that the domestic lumber industry faced a ?EUR??,,????'??threat of injury?EUR??,,????'?? from Canadian softwood lumber imports. In issuing its ruling, the NAFTA panel said that the ITC ?EUR??,,????'??made its threat determination on the basis of considerable speculation and conjecture,?EUR??,,????'?? and the NAFTA panel noted that it ?EUR??,,????'??is particularly troubled by the extensive lack of analysis undertaken by the commission of the factors applicable to a determination of whether there is a threat of material injury to the domestic softwood lumber industry.?EUR??,,????'?? A new ruling by the ITC affirming no threat of injury would result in the elimination of the lumber tariffs. However, if the ITC were to uphold its original ?EUR??,,????'??threat of injury?EUR??,,????'?? ruling, NAFTA would then have three choices: affirm the ITC decision, order the ITC to reverse its ruling, or once again compel the ITC to reconsider the case.