ITC recommends duties on Chinese hardwood plywood imports

The U.S. International Trade Commission (TC) on Friday voted 4-0 to apply antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Chinese hardwood plywood entering the United States.    The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Friday voted 4-0 to apply antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Chinese hardwood plywood entering the United States.
   The commission determined that these imports harm domestic producers since they are dumped on the U.S. market at less than fair value and receive subsidies from the Chinese government.
   As a result of the ITC’s affirmative determinations, the Commerce Department will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China.
   The commission also made a negative finding concerning critical circumstances with regard to imports of this product.  As a result, imports of hardwood plywood from China will not be subject to retroactive antidumping or countervailing duties.
   In October, the ITC held a hearing regarding imports of Chinese hardwood plywood and heard testimony from numerous U.S. producers and company executives, as well as congressmen. Earlier this month, Commerce made final determinations against Chinese hardwood plywood and set an antidumping duty of 183.6 percent. Commerce also set countervailing duties ranging up to 194.9 percent for these imports.
   The Coalition for the Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood praised the ITC’s action.
   “We greatly appreciate today’s affirmative injury determination, which confirms that illegal trade practices from China will not be tolerated,” said Tim Brightbill, the coalition’s trade counsel, in a statement. “This vote reflects years of hard work and commitment from coalition members, congressional allies, and partners to address the challenges faced by the U.S. industry.” 
   “This puts American interests first by standing up to the illegal imports of Chinese hardwood plywood,” said Kip Howlett, president of the Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association. “We are thankful for the hard work of the commission and the Department of Commerce in recognizing the significant unfair trade practices of the Chinese hardwood plywood industry and the injury it has caused U.S. producers.”
   The coalition said many U.S. hardwood plywood manufacturers have been forced to operate at less than 50 percent capacity due to the rise of Chinese imports in recent years. Chinese hardwood plywood imports arriving in the United States increased 22 percent from 2014 to 2016, and rose another 26 percent during the first half of 2017. In 2016, these imports from China were valued at $1.12 billion.