Trade Commission Approves Extension of Anti-Dumping Duties

January 11, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Business Strategy, Industry   

The duties have been in effect since 2005, but would have ended this year without the commission’s vote due to a sunset provision in international trade agreements. The sunset provision requires duties to end after five years, but they can be kept in place if the commission determines that lifting them “would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or material injury (to domestic producers) within a reasonably foreseeable time.”

The commission began its five-year review process in November 2015, and five of the six commission members voted this week to keep the duties. One other member did not participate in the review, the commission said.

It’s the second time the commission has voted to keep the duties intact. They are aimed at unfair pricing tactics of Chinese producers who the government says sells goods in the U.S. market at below cost. Duties are paid by the importer of record.

The commission’s report covering its latest review will be available to the public by Feb. 15 on the commission’s website at www.usitc.gov.