U.S. government responds to Agri-Fab anti-dumping petition
26 Jan, 2009 LM Direct!SULLIVAN, IL — In a decision that will protect the U.S. lawn equipment industry, the Department of Commerce issued a preliminary ruling Friday that Chinese manufacturers have been exporting lawn grooming equipment to the United States at unfair prices, says Agri-Fab in a Jan. 26 news release.
Responding to a petition from Agri-Fab, the country's largest producer of tow-behind lawn grooming equipment, this decision ultimately protects American jobs and ensures U.S. consumers continue to receive durable lawn care equipment backed by quality, domestic-based service, says the release.
In June 2008, Agri-Fab filed an anti-dumping petition on behalf of the domestic tow-behind lawn care equipment industry urging the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and Department of Commerce to investigate unfairly traded tow-behind lawn grooming equipment from China. The petition noted that the prices of imported Chinese products unfairly undersold U.S. producers by significant margins, which meant Chinese manufacturers were gaining a secure foothold in the U.S. market at the expense of domestic manufacturers. Imports of tow-behind lawn grooming equipment from China surged more than 240% from 2005 to 2007.
In a preliminary ruling Friday, the Department of Commerce agreed with Agri-Fab and will now require importers of Chinese products to pay the U.S. government anti-dumping duties beginning at approximately 12%, but reaching as high as 324%, of the product costs charged by the Chinese suppliers. These percentages will vary depending on the particular Chinese manufacturer/exporter. By the time the Department of Commerce renders its final determination in June, it is expected that the standard dumping duty for all Chinese equipment will be 324%.
"The petition was necessary to protect American producers and keep Americans employed," says Michael Cohan, president of Agri-Fab. "No American firm, especially in today's economy, should be required to compete against Chinese producers who are selling products similar to ours at less than our costs of materials. Ultimately the ruling protects our industry and ensures U.S. consumers will continue to receive the quality of products and the superior service they have grown to expect from their domestic manufacturers."
Tow-behind lawn grooming equipment covered by the petition includes lawn sweepers, lawn seed and grass spreaders, turf aerators and dethatchers.
Agri-Fab is represented in the case by Mark S. Zolno, a partner in the Chicago office of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, the release says.
About Agri-Fab
Agri-Fab Inc. is an industry leader in the manufacturing of lawn and garden attachments that are built tough and guaranteed to last season after season. Founded in 1975, the Sullivan, IL-based company emerged as an industry leader following the introduction of its innovative lawn sweeper. The company has since become the dominant source in the lawn and garden attachment business and expanded its products to include other feature-rich attachments and products for the lawn and garden, as well as the UTV/ATV market.
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