The American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance (AKCA) has released a statement on the recent decision to impose antidumping and countervailing duties on unfairly traded Chinese imports of wooden cabinets and vanities. Earlier this week, the U.S. International Trade Commission concluded a campaign to address the issue. The unanimous vote means that antidumping and countervailing duty orders will now go into effect the first week of April.
“[The] ITC vote is a major win for the American kitchen cabinet industry and our American workers,” said Edwin Underwood, president and chief operating officer of Marsh Furniture Company. “This is an extremely important victory for the American kitchen cabinet industry and importantly our great American manufacturing workers. When given a level playing field, the American kitchen industry can compete with anyone in the world.”
While preliminary duties are currently being collected, once the orders are issued, duties will be collected at the final rates, which are higher for most companies. On 24 February 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued antidumping and countervailing duty final determinations. The total antidumping and countervailing duties were as follows: Dalian Meisen 269.91%, Foremost 122.1%, Ancientree 13.33%, with all others 58.89%. Today’s ITC vote means that almost all manufacturers that import from China will face final combined AD/CVD cash deposit rates of about 59%. The orders will remain in effect for a minimum of five years, and duty evasion, absorption and circumvention are strictly illegal.
“We want to thank all the parties involved for the effort given over the last three years in fighting for the American workers. Including the AKCA, Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) and the KCMA President Betsy Natz,” said Stephen Wellborn, director of product research and development for Wellborn Cabinet Inc. “This unanimous vote from the International Trade Commission will help bring a level playing field to the domestic cabinet manufacturing industry.”
The AKCA is comprised of more than 50 member companies based across the United States. In February 2020, members of the AKCA testified in front of the International Trade Commission to stand up for American workers and protect the historic American industry.
On March 6, 2019, the AKCA initiated one of the largest trade cases ever filed against Chinese imports at the International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce – a case that challenges China’s manipulation and unfair trade practices in the wooden cabinet and vanity production industry.
