US Trade Panel Allows Investigations Sought By Whirlpool, Wind Tower Makers BWEN
February 10 2012 - 12:58PM
Dow Jones News
A U.S. trade panel Friday cleared the way for the government to
pursue high-profile investigations that could lead to import duties
on wind towers from China and Vietnam and dishwashers from Mexico
and South Korea.
The votes by the International Trade Commission allows the
Commerce Department to explore whether to slap antidumping or
countervailing duties on the imports. U.S. companies have sought
relief, claiming that the wind towers and dishwashers are receiving
unfair government subsidies and being dumped, or sold at less than
normal value, in the market.
In one case, the Wind Tower Trade Coalition claims Chinese and
Vietnamese makers of the massive steel structures that hold up
spinning turbine blades have received a range of unfair benefits.
Imports actually fell through 2010, with Chinese-made wind towers
declining 42% to $103.6 million and Vietnamese towers down 23% at
$51.9 million.
The four companies on the petition are Trinity Industries Inc.
(TRN), Otter Tail Corp.'s (OTTR) DMI Industries, Katana Summit and
Broadwind Energy Inc. (BWEN).
The complaint follows a similar dispute over the Chinese
clean-energy sector. In November, the U.S. opened an investigation
into allegations from the U.S. arm of German-based SolarWorld AG
(SWV.XE) that Chinese competitors were dumping their products on
the U.S. market. The Chinese government has criticized both
investigations.
In the wind tower case, Commerce is expected to make its
preliminary determination on countervailing duties on March 23,
with an initial decision on antidumping duties expected June 6.
The dishwasher case was the second investigation demanded by
Whirlpool Corp. (WHR) against competition from South Korea and
Mexico, having earlier sought duties on "bottom-mount"
refrigerators. Both cases mostly target South Korean rivals Samsung
Electronics Co. (SSNHY, 005930.SE) and LG Electronics Inc.
(066570.SE).
"This decision by the ITC validates the actions we've taken to
protect the U.S. domestic appliance industry, our 23,000 U.S.
employees and the communities in which they work," said Whirlpool
spokeswoman Kristine Vernier.
Dishwasher imports from South Korea rose to $659.1 million in
2010 from $569.8 million the year before, while the value of
Mexican washers rose to $450.2 million from $382.7 million.
In that case, Commerce is expected to make its preliminary
determination on countervailing duties on March 26, with an initial
decision on antidumping duties expected June 7.
--By Tom Barkley, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9275;
tom.barkley@dowjones.com
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