U.S. plywood manufacturers cry foul

The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission asserting that imports of hardwood plywood products from China are being sold in to the United States at “dumped prices” below cost to gain an unfair competitive advantage.

The coalition is an association of U.S. hardwood plywood manufacturers.

The petition asserts that in violation of international trade rules, Chinese producers of hardwood plywood receive illegal government subsidies, such as tax breaks and discounted land and raw materials.

“We cannot allow critical U.S. manufacturing industries — and the communities they support – to be damaged because of China’s illegal trade practices,” Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association president Kip Howlett said in a statement. “Now is the time for the U.S. government to take decisive action and stand up for thousands of American workers who are employed in the hardwood plywood industry.”

For more, visit www.hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.org.