Foreign innerspring units pain in U.S. industry’s back

Foreign innerspring units pain in U.S. industry’s back The U.S. International Trade Commission determined Friday that imports of uncovered innerspring units from South Africa and Vietnam cause harm to domestic manufacturers, and the Commerce Department has determined these imports are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
   As a result of the ITC’s affirmative determinations, the Commerce Department will issue antidumping orders on these imports from South Africa and Vietnam.
   The innerspring units subject to the antidumping orders are classified under the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule statistical reporting number 9404.29.9010, and have also been imported under numbers 9404.10.0000, 7326.20.0070, 7320.20.5010, and 7320.90.5010.
   Leggett & Platt of Carthage, Mo., requested the ITC investigation. There are eight U.S. firms as of 2008 involved in the manufacture of uncovered innerspring units, with a total of 35 plants concentrated in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin. The ITC reported that in 2007 U.S. consumption of innerspring units included 20,907 units, valued at $557.6 million.
   For more details about the investigation, access the ITC’s Web site at www.usitc.gov (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1141-1142 (final), Publication 4051, November 2008).