UPDATE: DOC assigns import duties on China innersprings
Range from 164.75% to 234.51%
Thomas Russell -- Furniture Today, December 29, 2008
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce has assigned final duties on uncovered mattress innerspring units imported from China.In late July, the DOC had announced preliminary rates of 118.17% for eight exporters and producers and a China-wide rate of 234.51%.
In its final determination, the DOC assigned a rate of 164.75% to several Chinese sources:
Anshan Yuhua Industrial Trade Co., Ltd.
East Grace Corp. and its producer, Wuxi Xihuisheng Commercial Co., Ltd.
Hebei Yililan Furniture Co., Ltd.
Nanjing Meihua Import & Export Trade Co., Ltd. and its producer, Nanjing Dongdai Furniture Co., Ltd.
Xilinmen Group Co., Ltd. and its producer, Xilinmen Furniture Co., Ltd.
Zhejian Sanmen Herod Mattress Co., Ltd.
Zibo Senbao Furniture Co., Ltd.
The China-wide rate was set at 234.51%, the same as the preliminary determination. Companies under that rate include the High Hope International Group, Jiangsu Native Produce Import and Export Corp., Ltd. and Jiangsu Soho International Group Holding Co., Ltd.
Foshan Jingxin Steel Wire & Spring Co., Ltd. also was assigned a rate of 234.51%.
The rates result from an investigation requested by Leggett & Platt into how Chinese producers were pricing uncovered innerspring units. The U.S. government determined that those companies were selling the goods at rates that are considered less than fair market value.
Duties are paid by importers of record. They are based on the amount under fair market value that the government believes the Chinese producers and exporters are selling the goods into the U.S. market.
The duties apply to innersprings for adult, youth and crib mattresses. They exclude innersprings used in the seating of upholstered furniture, but do apply to innerspring units in mattresses in sleeper sofas and similar products.
The investigation also covered uncovered innerspring units imported from South Africa and Vietnam. Final duties were assigned earlier for those countries - 121.39% for South Africa and 116.31% for Vietnam.
More details about the ruling are available on the Federal Register's Web site.
DOC assigns duties on China innersprings
01/04/2009U.S. imposes innerspring import duties
12/12/2008U.S. to investigate innerspring dumping
02/14/2008ITC continuing innerspring investigation
02/17/2008Ruling issued on Chinese innersprings
02/09/2009
