China Unfair Trade Ruling on Import of Multilayered Wood Flooring

The Coalition for American Hardwood Parity (CAHP) scored a major victory as 2011 drew to a close. The U.S. International Trade Commision ordered antidumping and countervailing duty on imports of multilayered wood flooring from China.

The CAHP claimed the multilayered wood flooring industry in the U.S. was being unfairly threatened by multilayered wood flooring manufactured in China and called for antidumping and countervailing duty investigations back in 2010.

An antidumping investigation looks into whether or not an imported product is being sold in the U.S. market at a value that is less than fair by a foreign manufacturer.

Countervailing duty investigations look into whether or not government subsidies are giving a foreign manufacturer an unfair competitive advantage.

The CAHP claimed multilayered wood flooring import from China was running against U.S. fair trade law in both areas and are thrilled that the final determination of the U.S. International Trade Commission agrees.

Made in China products have certainly increased in the United States. Some research indicates that, for the most part, the increase of imports from China has not come at the cost of American jobs. However, in the industry of multilayered wood flooring, Chinese manufactured products have taken over a large portion of the U.S. market at a great cost to American manufacturers.

This decision “represents an important win for American manufacturing, and the fight to keep honest paying manufacturing jobs in this country” according to lead counsel for the CAHP, Jeff Levin as quoted in a press release about the U.S. International Trade Commision’s determination.

Perhaps this wil cause a trend of looking into U.S. imports from China and other countries with more scrutiny. Or perhaps it will be an isolated decision.

Here in 2012 and the years to follow, we’ll see if Levin is correct in saying, “This also represents a substantial step towards redressing the harmful impact of unfair trading in the U.S. market.”

For a free rate quote on imports from or exports to China, click here.