American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors Statement on ITC Final Decision

The U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) today voted that the petitioners in the Kitchen Cabinet and Vanities anti-dumping and countervailing duty case are materially injured by imports of these products. The vote for injury means that antidumping and countervailing duty deposits will continue to be collected and duties will ultimately be assessed against imports of RTA cabinets from China at rates determined by the Department of Commerce. The American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors issued the following statement regarding today’s vote:

“It is shocking that the U.S. government has placed an unnecessary and damaging tax on entrepreneurial American businesses who are struggling to survive in these unprecedented and challenging times. The innovative ready-to-assemble (“RTA”) cabinet industry has gained popularity by providing a quick turnaround option that appeals to a niche group of consumers. Its success has not come at the expense of the domestic industry, which produces made-to-order cabinets. The U.S. government is unnecessarily punishing an American industry that, when accurately accounted for, represents less than 10% of the overall U.S. cabinet industry.

It is unclear how a U.S. made-to-order cabinet industry—boasting years of profitability and steady shareholder returns, as well as several large company members that have themselves imported product from overseas, including China—could be found to be materially injured by imports of RTA product from China. Nor is it clear how today’s decision will help the U.S. made-to-order industry to address the intra-industry competition that is the real source of disruption among some of its companies—and for which RTA imports from China are being unfairly blamed.

About The American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors

The RTA industry has become an important economic contributor to communities across the United States. We hope that our companies are able to sustain the livelihoods of the thousands of American workers gainfully employed in this entrepreneurial U.S. industry.” The American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors (“ACCD”) is composed of distributors, dealers, contractors, installers and importers of ready-to-assemble (“RTA”) cabinets joined together today to launch the American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors (“ACCD”). The group is dedicated to fighting the trade case by made-to-order cabinet companies filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) and U.S. Department of Commerce against imports of RTA cabinets from China. For additional information on the Coalition, visit www.americancabinetdistributors.org.

Contact:

Paul Nathanson – paul.nathanson@bracewell.com – (202) 828-1714

Source: The American Coalition of Cabinet Distributors