US International Trade Commission Makes Preliminary Determination in Hardwood and Decorative Plywood Trade Cases

On July 3, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) found a reasonable indication that imports of hardwood and decorative plywood (HWDP) from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam are materially injuring the US industry, according to Wiley, a Washington, DC-based law firm and a petitioner in the case.

The ITC vote followed petitions filed by Wiley on May 22 on behalf of the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, which includes five US HWDP producers: Columbia Forest Products, Commonwealth Plywood, Manthei Wood Products, States Industries, and Timber Products. Petitioners allege that dumped and subsidized imports from the three countries are harming the domestic industry and threaten further injury.

On June 11, the US Department of Commerce announced the initiation of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations into HWDP imports from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The petitions allege dumping margins of up to 540.07% for China, 84.94% for Indonesia, and 152.41% for Vietnam. Commerce is also examining at least 33 subsidy programs in China, 12 in Indonesia, and 26 in Vietnam, according to Wiley.

The ITC’s affirmative preliminary injury determination paves the way for Commerce to proceed with its investigations. Unless extended, Commerce is expected to issue its preliminary CVD determination in August and its preliminary AD determination in October, Wiley stated. If Commerce also makes affirmative preliminary determinations, provisional AD and CVD duties will be collected based on the preliminary margins calculated. Final AD and CVD orders would be issued if both Commerce and the ITC ultimately reach affirmative final determinations.