HANOI — Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade launched an anti-dumping investigation to assess the legality of certain wood fiber board products originating from China and Thailand.

The investigation was instigated by a petition filed by a coalition of Vietnamese wood composite manufacturers including MDF VRG Dongwha Joint Stock Company, Dongwha Vietnam Co Ltd., MDF VRG Quang Tri Joint Stock Company, Kim Tin MDF Joint Stock Company, and Kim Tin MDF Dong Phu Joint Stock Company. Their petition alleges that wood fiber board products from China and Thailand and are being dumped into the Vietnamese market, causing significant harm to local manufacturers.

The ministry will begin its investigation by sending questionnaires to involved parties to gather information that will help assess alleged dumping activities by companies in the exporting countries, including the extent of damage to the Vietnamese industry. Based on preliminary results of its inquiry, the ministry could apply provisional anti-dumping measures to prevent continued significant harm to the domestic industry, while it continues a deeper probe leading up to a final decision.

The ministry has set a Dec. 18 deadline for organizations and individuals involved in importing, exporting, distributing, trading, or using the investigated goods to register as interested parties and provide necessary information to safeguard their rights and interests in accordance with the law.