Alexandria, VA - The International Wood Products Association reacted with concern over the Department of Commerce’s Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation on hardwood plywood imported from China. 

Preliminary rates have been assessed at 0% for mandatory respondents – a result welcomed by IWPA and that runs counter to claims that they were the recipients of government subsidization. However, rates for all other respondents were set at 22.63%, tracking incredibly close with the 27.16% rate imposed on non-respondent producers.

The announcement of preliminary anti-dumping rates has been postponed, and will now be published on April 29, 2013. In order to bring the countervailing (CVD) rates process in line with the anti-dumping (AD) investigation, both final rates will be announced on September 18, 2013.

In the intervening time, IWPA is alarmed at the effects this preliminary rate will have on commerce. Since the petition was filed in 2012, IWPA has expressed its concern about how high rates will affect the many Americans who depend directly and indirectly on this unique product. American businesses, including many of the petitioners, will pay a heavy price as a result of this decision, just as the economy is emerging from one of the worst economic recessions in American history.

Ashley Amidon, Manager of Government and Public Affairs for IWPA said “I am obviously concerned about what this could mean for our industry at large, as well as the American consumer. I’m heartened by the fact that the Department of Commerce found a 0% duty on the mandatory respondents, effectively refuting claims of government subsidization by the petitioners.”

Amidon added “As an association, we are obviously following this very closely, and are working to support the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood as much as we can. We all want a fair outcome from this process.”

Source: IWPA