The International Trade Commission is entering the final phase of an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation involving quartz surface products imported from India and Turkey.

The case has some implications for the furniture industry as it not only applies to countertops and backsplashes seen in kitchens and bathrooms. It also applies to quartz surface products of all sizes and thicknesses that are used in furniture, including but not limited to vanities, tables, bar tops and fireplace units. It does not apply to quarried stone surface products featuring granite, marble, soapstone or quartzite. The investigation also does not cover crushed glass surfaces.

And while the scope does not cover the actual case piece, cabinet or table itself, it does cover quartz surface products “whether or not they are imported attached to or conjunction with non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls, vanities, cabinets and furniture.”

It also covers material that has been shipped from India and Turkey that are finished, packaged or otherwise fabricated in a third country, such as China or Vietnam. This includes processes such as cutting, polishing, curing, edging, thermoforming, attaching to or packaging with another product or any other type of finishing, packaging or fabrication not listed here.

The goal of the investigation is to determine whether or not the domestic industry producing similar products has been materially injured or threatened with material injury due to unfairly priced or subsidized imports from India and Turkey.

The ITC will hold a hearing on the matter at 9:30 a.m., April 28, at the U.S. ITC building in Washington. Requests to appear at this hearing should be made before April 23. Anyone wishing to appear at this hearing should also take part in a prehearing conference on April 24, also at the ITC building.

Source: Furniture Today