September 07, 2008

US DOC levies AD on steel wire garment hangers from China

The Department of Commerce on March 19th 2008 announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation on imports of steel wire garment hangers from the People’s Republic of China.

Commerce preliminarily determined that producers and exporters of steel wire garment hangers from China have sold steel wire garment hangers in the United States at 33.85% to 221.05% less than fair value. As a result of this preliminary determination, DOC will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates.

The scope of this investigation covers certain steel wire garment hangers, fabricated from carbon steel wire, whether or not galvanized or painted, whether or not coated with latex or epoxy or similar gripping materials, and or whether or not fashioned with paper covers or capes and or nonslip features such as saddles or tubes. Steel wire garment hangers are produced primarily for use by the dry cleaning, industrial laundry, textile and uniform rental industries. Steel wire garment hangers are classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff System of the United States under the subheading 7326.20.00, and reported under statistical reporting number, 7326.20.0020. While the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Commerce is currently scheduled to make its final determination in June 2008. If Commerce makes a final affirmative determination and the US International Trade Commission makes a final determination that imports of steel wire garment hangers from China materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue an antidumping order.

The petitioner for this investigation is M&B Metal Products Company, Inc.