U.S. Department of Commerce Initiates Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Imports of Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers and Parts Thereof from China and Vietnam
For Immediate Release
June 16, 2020
Contact: ITA Office of Public Affairs
Phone: 202-482-3809
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the initiation of new antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations to determine whether walk-behind lawn mowers and parts thereof (walk-behind lawn mowers) from China and Vietnam are being dumped in the United States, and to determine if producers in China are receiving unfair subsidies.
The petitions were filed by MTD Products, Inc. (Valley City, Ohio).
In the AD investigations, Commerce will determine whether imports of walk-behind lawn mowers from China and Vietnam are being dumped in the U.S. market at less-than-fair value. The alleged dumping margins are as follows:
- 274.29 to 313.58 percent for China
- 289.63 to 416.00 percent for Vietnam
In the CVD investigation from China, Commerce will determine whether Chinese producers of walk-behind lawn mowers are receiving unfair government subsidies. Commerce will investigate 17 subsidy programs, including tax programs, government provision of goods for less than adequate remuneration, export programs, grants, and government provided loans.
If Commerce makes affirmative findings in these investigations, and if the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determines that dumped and/or unfairly subsidized U.S. imports of walk-behind lawn mowers from China and Vietnam materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry, Commerce will impose duties on those imports in the amount of dumping and/or unfair subsidization found to exist.
The 2019, imports of walk-behind lawn mowers from the countries under investigation were approximately:
- $24.6 million for China
- $135,090 for Vietnam
Read the fact sheet on today’s decision.
Next Steps:
During Commerce’s investigations into whether walk-behind lawn mowers from China and Vietnam are being dumped and/or unfairly subsidized, the ITC will conduct its own investigations into whether the U.S. industry and its workforce are being injured by such imports. The ITC will make its preliminary determinations by July 10. If the ITC preliminarily determines that there is a reasonable indication of material injury or threat of material injury, then Commerce’s investigations will continue, with the preliminary CVD determination scheduled for August 19, and the preliminary AD determinations scheduled for November 2, unless these deadlines are extended.
If Commerce preliminarily determines that dumping and/or unfair subsidization is occurring, then it will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to start collecting cash deposits from all U.S. companies importing walk-behind lawn mowers from China and Vietnam, as appropriate.
Final determinations by Commerce in these cases are scheduled for November 2, for the CVD investigation, and January 19, 2021 for the AD investigations, but these dates may be extended. If Commerce finds that products are not being dumped or unfairly subsidized, or the ITC finds no injury to the U.S. industry, then the investigations will be terminated, and no duties will be applied.
The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump administration. Since the beginning of the current administration, Commerce has initiated 257 new AD and CVD investigations – a 238 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration.
The AD and CVD laws provide American businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair pricing and unfair subsidization of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 526 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.
Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to AD duties. Foreign companies that receive financial assistance from foreign governments that benefits their production of goods, and is limited to specific enterprises or industries, or is contingent either upon export performance or upon the use of domestic goods over imported goods, are subject to CVD duties.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade laws and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international rules and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.
