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News Release 23-042
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-565 and 731-TA-1341
Contact: Elizabeth Nesbitt, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revocation of the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain hardwood plywood products (hardwood plywood) from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury or threat of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.
The Commission’s public report Hardwood Plywood from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-565 and 731-TA-1341 (Review), USITC Publication 5426, May 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
The report will be available by June 16, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the reviews, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Hardwood Plywood from China (Review) were instituted on December 1, 2022.
On March 6, 2023, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and Randolph J. Stayin concluded that the domestic interested party group response was adequate and the respondent interested party group response was inadequate and voted for expedited reviews. Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioner Amy A. Karpel concluded that both the domestic interested party group response and the respondent interested party group response were adequate and voted for full reviews.
A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
News Release 17-176
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-565 and 731-TA-1341 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of hardwood plywood from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China.
Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China.
The Commission also made a negative finding concerning critical circumstances with regard to imports of this product. As a result, imports of hardwood plywood from China will not be subject to retroactive antidumping or countervailing duties.
The Commission’s public report Hardwood Plywood from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-565 and 731-TA-1341 (Final), USITC Publication 4747, December 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available by January 10, 2018; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Product Description: Hardwood plywood is a wood panel product made from gluing two or more layers of wood veneer to a core which may itself be composed of veneers or other type of wood material. The outer ply or face veneer is typically the identifying species for the hardwood plywood product and is the side of the product that will be visible in most uses. A wide variety of hardwood species is used in hardwood plywood manufacturing including oak, birch, maple, poplar, cherry, and tropical varieties.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2. Petitioners: Columbia Forest Products, Greensboro, NC; Commonwealth Plywood Inc., Whitehall, NY; Murphy Plywood Co., Eugene, OR; Roseburg Forest Products Co., Roseburg, OR; States Industries, Inc., Eugene, OR; and Timber Products Company, Springfield, OR.
3. USITC Institution Date: Friday, November 18, 2016.
4. USITC Hearing Date: Thursday, October 26, 2017.
5. USITC Vote Date: Friday, December 01, 2017.
6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2017.
U.S. Industry in 2016:
1. Number of U.S. producers: 9
2. Location of producers’ plants: Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
3. Production and related workers: 2,294.
4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments: $790.9 million.
5. Apparent U.S. consumption: $2.0 billion.
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption: 35.3 percent.
U.S. Imports in 2016:
1. Subject imports: $715.7 million.
2. Nonsubject imports: $518.7 million.
3. Leading import sources: China, Indonesia, Russia, Malaysia, and Ecuador (in terms of total value).
News Release 13-108
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-490 and 731-TA-1204 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of hardwood plywood from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the negative. Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in these investigations.
As a result of the USITC's negative determinations, no antidumping or countervailing duty orders will be issued.
The Commission's public report Hardwood Plywood from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA- 490 and 731-TA-1204 (Final), USITC Publication 4434, November 2013) will contain the views of the Commissioners and information developed during the investigations.
Copies may be obtained after December 16, 2013, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Hardwood and Decorative Plywood from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-490 and 731-TA-1204 (Final)
Product Description: Hardwood and decorative plywood (hardwood plywood) is a wood panel product made from gluing two or more layers of wood veneer to a core. The core is composed of veneers or other type of wood material such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, lumber, or oriented strand board (OSB). The outer ply or face veneer is typically the identifying species for the hardwood plywood product and is the side of the product that will be visible in most uses. The subject product is typically made using hardwood species (e.g., oak, birch, maple, and poplar), but may also be made from softwood species or bamboo. Hardwood plywood is generally used in the manufacturing of furniture, cabinetry, wall paneling, and similar products. The product is typically used in interior applications, although some hardwood plywood is made specifically for marine applications. Specifically excluded from the subject product scope is structural plywood, plywood made with cork faces or backs, multilayered wood flooring manufactured subject to a CVD/AD order, plywood with a shape or design other than a flat panel, and plywood made entirely from bamboo and adhesives.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood and its individual
members: Columbia Forest Products, Greensboro, NC; Commonwealth Plywood Co.,
Ltd., Whitehall, NY; Murphy Plywood, Eugene, OR; Roseburg Forest Products Co.,
Roseburg, OR; States Industries LLC, Eugene, OR; and Timber Products Company,
Springfield, OR.
3. Investigation instituted by USITC: September 27, 2012.
4. USITC hearing: September 19, 2013.
5. USITC vote: November 5, 2013.
6. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: November 25, 2013.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. producers in 2013: 8 responding.
2. Location of producers' plants: Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina,
Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2012: 1,868.
4. U.S. producers' U.S. shipments in 2012: 642.2 million square feet.
5. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2012: 3,489.8 million square feet.
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption in 2012: 47.9 percent
U.S. Imports in 2012:
1. From the subject country during 2012: $829.0 million.
2. From other countries during 2012: $677.2 million.
3. Leading sources during 2012: China, Russia, Indonesia, and Canada (in terms of total value).