Anti-Dumping Case Against Chinese, Taiwanese Ribbons Continues
Chinese and Taiwanese ribbon manufacturers will be investigated for dumping their goods into the U.S. market for less than fair market value after a complaint filed by a U.S. ribbon manufacturer.
On Aug. 21, the United States International Trade Commission voted unanimously to pursue its investigation because there is reasonable evidence that the ribbon imports threaten domestic industries.
The products under review are narrow woven ribbons with woven selvedge from China that are allegedly subsidized and ribbon from Taiwan being sold at below-market prices.
The investigation was prompted by Berwick Offray, the leading supplier of ribbons and bows in the United States, which filed a petition in July asking that the U.S. government collect anti-dumping duties on the ribbons. Berwick, which said it saw a 78 percent increase in these ribbon imports during the first quarter compared with a year earlier, said it believes Chinese manufacturers are receiving government subsidies to offset the full-market price.
Berwick said it believes the ribbon imports are hurting U.S. manufacturers and employees. “With our dedicated and skilled U.S. workers, we produce quality ribbon in our highly efficient U.S. narrow-weaving facilities,” said Scott Shea, president of Berwick Offray. “Assuming a level playing field, we are able to compete with anyone, including the Taiwanese and Chinese. We believe that trade remedies, in the form of duties, are absolutely necessary to negate the effects of dumping from Taiwan and China.”
The U.S. government will make a countervailing-duty ruling in early October and an anti-dumping determination in mid-December.—Deborah Belgum
