Hardwood Plywood Gains Relief

United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has determined that the U.S. hardwood plywood industry is materially injured by reason of imports of hardwood plywood from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce had earlier determined are sold in the U.S. at less than fair value and are subsidized by the government of China.

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China. Imports of hardwood plywood from China will not be subject to retroactive antidumping or countervailing duties.

The Coalition for the Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood commends the unanimous decision by the ITC, praising it as meaningful relief for the U.S. hardwood plywood industry. Dept. of Commerce earlier set an antidumping duty of 183.6%, as well as countervailing duties ranging up to 194.9%.

“Today’s decision demonstrates that the U.S. government will not tolerate unfair trade practices and will support American manufacturing and workers,” says Kip Howlett, president of Hardwood Plywood Veneer Assn. “This puts American interests first by standing up to the illegal imports of Chinese hardwood plywood.”

In October, ITC held a hearing on these illegal imports of Chinese hardwood plywood and listened to the testimony of numerous U.S. producers, company executives and members of Congress.

In addition to the testimony provided at the ITC, the Coalition received a letter of support from more than 40 members of Congress, led by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR) and Pete DeFazio (D-OR) urging the ITC to issue meaningful relief for the U.S. industry. The letter of support recognized the ways in which the U.S. industry has been harmed by illegal trade practices, forcing many producers to operate at less than 50% capacity. Imports of Chinese hardwood plywood increased 22% from 2014 to 2016, and another 26% in the first half of 2017.

The antidumping and countervailing duty cases were filed on behalf of the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, a group of six producers and manufacturers.