HA NOI — The US International Trade Commission (ITC) last week announced its verdict in an anti-dumping suit against Vietnamese businesses for dumping innersprings, saying that the products were sold at less than production costs, said the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Competition Management Department. Inner-springs are the core component of inner-spring mattresses.

The competition management department said the ITC intended to levy anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese innersprings from early next month. US authorities began an anti-dumping investigation of Vietnamese innersprings after US-based Leggett&Platt Inc filed a complaint with the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the ITC late last year.

Innersprings from China and South Africa were also under investigation.

During the US investigation, 11 Vietnamese enterprises from HCM City, Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces were investigated, along with other producers from China and South Africa. After several months of investigation, the DOC said Vietnamese innersprings were sold at 116.31 per cent "less than normal value". It found South African products sold for 234.51 per cent less. Vietnamese exporters will now face anti-dumping duties of 116.31 per cent of the cost of innersprings.

US authorities have instructed US Customs to hold back shipments of suspect merchandise and to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the final anti-dumping duties. The results of an investigation into Chinese-made innersprings are expected to be made public on December 22.

Viet Nam exported more than 310,000 innerspring units worth roughly US$2.6 million to the US from 2005-07. — VNS

(29-11-2008)

Source: vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn