The US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled Friday that
Chinese manufacturers are dumping bedroom furniture in the US
market at unfairly low prices and damaging US producers.
The ITC said that "there is a reasonable indication that a US
industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury
by reason of imports of wooden bedroom furniture from China that is
allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value."
The ITC ruled on a petition from about 30 US manufacturers of
wood bedroom furniture, claiming the artificially low prices on
Chinese imports were hurting US producers.
The ruling requires the US Commerce Department to start an
investigation to determine an appropriate level of offsetting
duties.
Meanwhile, the decision also sparked an immediate reaction from
US furniture retailers, who formed their own coalition aimed at
averting the tariffs.
The newly formed Furniture Retailers of America called the new
trade action "ill-conceived and damaging" for the United
States.
(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2004)