WASHINGTON(Reuters) - The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Friday it had determined that imports of wooden cabinets from China are harming American producers, keeping alive a trade investigation that could lead to tariffs on the products.
The preliminary findings by the trade panel mean the U.S. Commerce Department will move ahead with an investigation into whether Chinese wooden cabinets, vanities and components are unfairly subsidized or sold in the U.S. market at less than fair value.
If the Commerce Department determines the products are unfairly subsidized or dumped on the U.S. market, and the ITC upholds its finding of harm, the United States would impose tariffs on the imports for a period of five years.
The United States imported some $4.4 billion worth of wooden cabinets, vanities and their components from China in 2018. The trade investigation was launched in March based on petitions from the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance.