The U.S. Department of Commerce said last week that lauan plywood remains a part of the department’s Indonesian Plywood investigation.
The Commerce Department concluded its investigation into antidumping tariffs. The department determined a 38.3% antidumping duty will be applied to Indonesian hardwood and decorative plywood.
Lauan importers began paying a 43.18% countervailing duty rate on the plywood beginning Jan. 22. The additional 38.3% duty, which is expected to take effect in the first full week of July, will increase lauan’s total tariff by 94.9% to an 81.48% rate.
RVIA said it will continue advocating for lauan to be excluded from “these overly broad investigations.”
The Department of Commerce responded to RVIA members’ requests to exclude lauan by stating that the department has said that no requirement exists to exclude specific products from investigation simply because they are not available domestically.
The Commerce Department postponed its final determination to no later than 135 days after publication in the Federal Register, which is scheduled to occur approximately March 3.
If lauan is eventually removed from the scope of the department’s investigation, RVIA said deposits will be refunded without interest. If that occurs, the Commerce Department will send instructions to Customs and Border Protection, which will be sent to the ports directing refunds.
