The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the new Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing (CVD) rates for multilayered (engineered) hardwood flooring from China on Oct. 12.
Zhejiang Layo received a final AD rate of 3.98 percent (up from 0 preliminary) and a final CVD rate of zero (same as preliminary). Zhejiang Yuhua received final rates of zero (same as preliminary rates). Samling Group received a final AD rate of 2.63 percent (up from 0 preliminary); CVD rate was not applicable. Fine Furniture AD rate was not applicable; CVD was 1.5 percent (down from 2.25 percent preliminary).
Separate rate companies, representing the majority of imports, dropped from preliminary to final rates: from 6.78 percent preliminary to 3.31 percent final for AD, and from 2.25 percent preliminary to 1.5 percent final for CVD.
Rates for the "all industry" group, estimated by the Alliance for Free Choice and Jobs in Flooring (AFCJF) as less than 5 percent of all imports, skyrocketed from 27.12 percent preliminary to 58.84 percent final for AD, and dropped slightly from 27.01 percent preliminary to 26.73 percent final for CVD.
“We applaud the DOC for finding even lower rates in this final phase of their investigation. ... This gives us strong hope that the ITC Final Determination to be announced Nov. 21 could result in a complete dismissal of the case,” said Jonathan Train, AFCJF president.
“Our Alliance showed up in force at the ITC hearing Oct. 12 to testify as to the benefits of imports and how they help expand the overall wood flooring market. Data collected by the ITC clearly shows this to be the case. After extensive investigation, the DOC has yet to find any evidence of significant dumping or subsidies,” he added.
Jeff Levin, lead counsel for the Coalition for American Hardwood Parity (CAHP) which filed the original petition against Chinese engineered hardwood flooring manufacturers, stated: “We are pleased that the Commerce Department has agreed with what the U.S. industry stated from the beginning of this process. The vast majority of Chinese imports are unfairly traded. This industry presented a very compelling case to the ITC, that we believe will strongly support a favorable judgment from them next month as well.”
