ITC to Continue Investigating AMI Claims of Illegal Subsidizing and Dumping of Chinese Amorphous Silica Fabric into U.S. Market
MECHANIC FALLS, Maine, March 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Auburn Manufacturing, Inc. (AMI) has expressed gratification that the International Trade Commission (ITC) voted unanimously to continue its investigations into certain amorphous silica fabric (ASF) from China. The vote was based on a reasonable indication that the U.S. industry producing ASF is materially injured by imports from China that are allegedly subsidized and dumped in the United States at less than fair value. The unanimous decision is extremely encouraging for AMI who filed an antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petition against Chinese imports of ASF in January.
AMI is the largest American producer of industrial grade ASF and is the principal supplier of ASF to the U.S. Navy. "Filing the petition was necessary to keep AMI as a viable supplier to the Navy and to protect textile workers in Maine," explained AMI President and CEO Kathie Leonard. "Our profitability and growth potential have been negatively affected by Chinese trading practices, which allow producers to sell ASF at artificially low prices."
AMI's petition provided evidence that the Chinese government is providing unfair subsidies to Chinese producers of ASF. This illegal subsidizing has caused the volume of imports of Chinese ASF to increase by more than 150 percent between 2012 and 2014. AMI further alleges the imports are not compliant with either the Buy American Act (requiring over 50% US content), or the Berry Amendment, which generally requires textiles purchased with funds allocated by the Department of Defense to be 100% of US origin. "If these unfair practices are not curbed, the U.S. military will suffer because it will be unable to source these products from U.S. companies," said Leonard.
Leonard added that AMI is proud of the fact that all four of Maine's federal legislators came together in support of its petition against China. In their letter to the ITC, the legislators noted that "Addressing unfair and potentially illegal trade practices by foreign governments and Chinese competitors is crucial to ensuring a continued domestic source of industrial grade ASF for U.S. Navy welding activities. We will continue to monitor the investigations of the ITC and the Department of Commerce and stand with Maine workers against all unfair trade."
In the next phase of the investigation, the department of Commerce will determine the antidumping and countervailing duty margins attributable to Chinese exporters.
Auburn Manufacturing, Inc.
Since its founding in 1979, Auburn Manufacturing, Inc., has become a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of textile products for hundreds of extreme temperature industrial applications throughout the world, including welding protection, industrial insulation, safety apparel, gaskets and seals, and other MROP (Maintenance, Repair, Operations and Production) and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) applications.
Contact: Rhonda Cox, Auburn Mfg
Phone: 207.345.8771
Email
SOURCE Auburn Manufacturing, Inc
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