The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is investigating imports of wooden cabinets and vanities from China as to whether they are sold as less than fair value (antidumping or AD), or receive Chinese government subsidies (countervailing duty or CVD).
The preliminary investigations have been assigned case numbers A-570-106, and C-570-107.
The scope consists of wooden cabinets and vanities for permanent installation (including floor mounted, wall mounted, ceiling hung or by attachment of plumbing), and wooded components thereof. They may be made of solid wood, engineered wood (made from wood particles, fibers, or other wooden materials such as plywood, strand board, block board, particle board, or fiberboard), or bamboo.
Wooden cabinets and vanities consist of a cabinet box (which typically includes a top, bottom, sides, back, base blockers, ends/end panels, stretcher rails, toe kicks, and/or shelves) and may or may not include a frame, door, drawers and/or shelves.
They may be made of wood veneers, or have wood, paper or other overlays, or laminates. It includes those with trim such as metal, marble, glass, plastic, or other resins, whether or not surface finished or unfinished, and whether or not completed.
Subject merchandise includes all unassembled, assembled and/or ‘ready to assemble’ (RTA) wooden cabinets and vanities, also commonly known as ‘flat packs’.
Imports of subject merchandise are classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers 9403.40.9060 and 9403.60.8081, with component parts in HTS number 9403.90.7080. Please note that these HTS are provided for convenience and customs purposes only, with the written description of the scope being dispositive.
Interested parties may submit comments to the DOC by April 15, 2019.
Unless extended, the ITC must reach a preliminary determination by April 22, 2019.
If you have any questions regarding the preliminary investigation on wooden cabinets and vanities from China, Livingston can help! Please contact either your Livingston account manager or our regulatory affairs group at usregaffairs@livingstonintl.com