Four U.S. wind tower manufacturers have filed trade complaints against China and Vietnam with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the International Trade Commission claiming unfair trade practices.
Specifically, the coalition is urging the agencies to conduct anti-dumping investigations into Chinese and Vietnamese imports of utility-scale wind towers, as well as a countervailing duty investigation into Chinese imports of such towers. The petitions assert dumping margins of 64.37% for China and 59.11% for Vietnam.
The case was filed by the Wind Tower Trade Coalition (WTTC), which comprises Trinity Structural Towers, DMI Industries, Katana Summit and Broadwind Energy.
According to the complaint, dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a
product in the U.S. at less than fair value. Further, countervailable subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments provided to foreign manufacturers that unfairly benefits the production, manufacture or exportation of goods in that country.
The DOC and the ITC should initiate investigations within three weeks of the date of filing of these petitions. The ITC's preliminary injury determination is expected in February of 2012, and DOC is expected to make its preliminary determinations within six months of initiation. A final determination is due in nine to 13 months.
‘Antidumping and countervailing duty investigations are powerful tools for U.S. producers that have been injured by unfairly priced imports,’ said Alan H. Price, chair of the International Trade Practice at Wiley Rein LLP and counsel for the WTTC, in a statement. ‘A successful outcome in this case will not only benefit U.S. manufacturers, but it will save numerous American jobs.’
