U.S. pays out $35.1M in duties
By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, December 9, 2007
High Point — U.S. Customs and Border Protection has disbursed $35.1 million to a group of U.S. furniture manufacturers in duties collected on Chinese wood bedroom furniture.
That's a 61% increase over last year's $21.8 million disbursement. Stanley got the largest payout, about $8.9 million, followed by Vaughan-Bassett at about $6 million.
The funds are distributed under the Byrd Amendment, which sends collected duties to petitioners — companies that filed the 2003 antidumping complaint that led to the duties.
Other companies receiving more than $1 million were American of Martinsville at $2.3 million, Kincaid at $2.3 million, Bassett at $2.1 million, Sandberg at $1.6 million, Johnston Tombigbee at $1.5 million, Vaughan at $1.8 million and Lea Inds. at $1.4 million.
Ongoing appeals in cases before the U.S. Court of International Trade will determine whether companies that weren't part of original antidumping petitions can receive funds. Customs said on its Web site that it is holding another $31.2 million for distribution pending the outcome of the litigation.
Companies that were not original petitioners seeking duties this year include Ashley, Furniture Brands International, HM Operating Inc., Kimball, Thornwood, Witmer Inds. and Standard.
Oakwood Interiors was not an original petitioner but sought a portion of the funds and received $239,037.
The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union filed for a portion of the funds and received a disbursement, albeit a small one at $55.
Other disbursements went to Stickley, which received $981,128; Carolina Furniture Works, $843,434; Higdon, $824,954; Perdues, $804,487; Mobel, $652,946; Century, $648,337; Michels and Co., $604,461; Vermont Quality Wood Products, $365,549; Moosehead Mfg., $310,300; T. Copeland and Sons, $293,835; MJ Wood Products, $273,817; Harden Furniture, $157,321; Tom Seely Furniture, $141,725; and Bebe Furniture, $72,645.
