U.S. buyers of China-made plywood plan to fight against import restrictions
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WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  U.S. customers for hardwood plywood made in China - represented by the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood - say they will fight back against the latest effort to block cheaper imports.
 
U.S. manufacturers of plywood, represented by the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, revived an appeal to the International Trade Commission, asking the organization to block sales of plywood from China's factories sold at what they claim are below-cost prices in the U.S. market. The ITC has turned down two previous appeals.  
 
In November, a group favoring access to Chinese made plywood, the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, formally filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission/ The Coalition says imports of hardwood plywood from China are being sold into the United States at “dumped prices” below cost to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
 
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association as well as customers of Chinese manufacturers are members of the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood. In addition to KCMA, members of the group include American Pacific Plywood, Concannon Lumber, Genesis Products, Holland Southwest International, Liberty Wood International, Moreland Company, Patriot Products, and US Ply. 
 
"Despite back to back losses dealt by the International Trade Commission and a federal appeals court, The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood has filed another petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission asserting that imports of hardwood plywood products from China are being sold into the United States at 'dumped prices' below cost to gain an unfair competitive advantage," the group said in a statement.  
"These same six petitioners brought this case in 2012 and lost unanimously at the International Trade Commission," said the American Alliance's  chairman Greg Simon. "They appealed to federal court and lost again. Now their solution is to use the same playbook and bring another case in the hopes of disrupting proven fair trade that is fostering the production of U.S.-made goods employing tens of thousands of U.S. workers." 
 
The American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood has re-hired the law firm Mowry & Grimson to support its case.
 
"We look forward to explaining to the ITC how Chinese hardwood plywood does not injure or threaten the domestic industry, consistent with the ITC's 2013 unanimous ruling in our favor," Simon said. 
 

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.