FACT SHEET

On December 11, the Department announced the initiation of an antidumping duty (AD) investigation of Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Next Steps: The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to issue its preliminary determination as to whether the domestic industry is materially injured, or is threatened with material injury, as a result of imports from the PRC, by mid-January. If the ITC should make an affirmative preliminary determination, the Department is scheduled to make its AD preliminary determination in April 2004, unless extended.

Petitioners: The petition requesting this investigation was filed on October 31, by the American Furniture Manufacturers Committee for Legal Trade and its individual members (the Committee), and the Cabinet Makers, Millmen, and Industrial Carpenters Local 721 (Local 721). On December 4, the petition was amended to add UBC Southern Council of Industrial Workers Local Union 2305, United Steel Workers of America Local 193U, Carpenters Industrial Union Local 2093, and Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers Local 991 as petitioners.

Product Description: The scope of this investigation covers wooden bedroom furniture. Wooden bedroom furniture is generally, but not exclusively, designed, manufactured, and offered for sale in coordinated groups, or bedrooms, in which all of the individual pieces are of approximately the same style and approximately the same material and/or finish. The subject merchandise is made substantially of wood products, including both solid wood and also engineered wood products made from wood particles, fibers, or other wooden materials such as plywood, oriented strand board, particle board, and fiberboard; with or without wood veneers, wood overlays, or laminates; with or without non-wood components or trim such as metal, marble, leather, glass, plastic, or other resins; and whether or not assembled, completed, or finished.

The subject merchandise includes (1) wooden beds such as loft beds, bunk beds, and other beds; (2) wooden headboards for beds (whether stand-alone or attached to side rails), wooden footboards for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and wooden canopies for beds; (3) night tables, night stands, dressers, commodes, bureaus, mule chests, gentlemen's chests, bachelor's chests, lingerie chests, wardrobes, vanities, chessers, chifforobes, and wardrobe-type cabinets; (4) dressers with framed glass mirrors that are attached to, incorporated in, sit on, or hang over the dresser; (5) chests-on-chests(1), highboys(2), lowboys(3), chests of drawers(4), chests(5), door chests(6), chiffoniers(7), hutches(8), and armoires(9); (6) desks, computer stands, filing cabinets, book cases, or writing tables that are attached to or incorporated in the subject merchandise; and (7) other bedroom furniture consistent with the above list.

The scope of the Petition excludes (1) seats, chairs, benches, couches, sofas, sofa beds, stools, and other seating furniture; (2) mattresses, mattress supports (including box springs), infant cribs, water beds, and futon frames; (3) office furniture, such as desks, stand-up desks, computer cabinets, filing cabinets, credenzas, and bookcases; (4) dining room or kitchen furniture such as dining tables, chairs, servers, sideboards, buffets, corner cabinets, china cabinets, and china hutches; (5) other non-bedroom furniture, such as television cabinets, cocktails tables, end tables, occasional tables, wall systems, book cases, and entertainment systems; (6) bedroom furniture made primarily of wicker, cane, osier, bamboo or rattan; (7) side rails for beds made of metal if sold separately from the headboard and footboard; and (8) bedroom furniture in which bentwood parts predominate. (10)

Imports of subject merchandise are classified under statistical category 9403.50.9040 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) as "wooden...beds" and under statistical category 9403.50.9080 of the HTSUS as "other...wooden furniture of a kind used in the bedroom." In addition, wooden headboards for beds, wooden footboards for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and wooden canopies for beds may also be entered under statistical category 9403.50.9040 of the HTSUS as "parts of wood" and framed glass mirrors may also be entered under statistical category 7009.92.5000 of the HTSUS as "glass mirrors...framed." This investigation covers all wooden bedroom furniture meeting the above description, regardless of tariff classification. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.

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1 A chest-on-chest is typically a tall chest-of-drawers in two or more sections (or appearing to be in two or more sections), with one or two sections mounted (or appearing to be mounted) on a slightly larger chest; also known as a tallboy.

2 A highboy is typically a tall chest of drawers usually composed of a base and a top section with drawers, and supported on four legs or a small chest (often 15 inches or more in height).

3 A lowboy is typically a short chest of drawers, not more than four feet high, normally set on short legs.

4 A chest of drawers is typically a case containing drawers for storing clothing.

5 A chest is typically a case piece taller than it is wide featuring a series of drawers and with or without one or more doors for storing clothing. The piece can either include drawers or be designed as a large box incorporating a lid.

6 A door chest is typically a chest with hinged doors to store clothing, whether or not containing drawers. The piece may also include shelves for televisions and other entertainment electronics.

7 A chiffonier is typically a tall and narrow chest of drawers normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie, often with mirror(s) attached.

8 A hutch is typically an open case of furniture with shelves that typically sits on another piece of furniture and provides storage for clothes.

9 An armoire is typically a tall cabinet or wardrobe (typically 50 inches or taller), with doors, and with one or more drawers (either exterior below or above the doors or interior behind the doors), shelves, and/or garment rods or other apparatus for storing clothes. Bedroom armoires may also be used to hold television receivers and/or other audio-visual entertainment systems.

10 As used herein, bentwood means solid wood made pliable. Bentwood is wood that is brought to a curved shape by bending it while made pliable with moist heat or other agency, and then set by cooling or drying. See Customs' Headquarters' Ruling Letter 043859, dated May 17, 1976.