Importer Gets 16 Months in Prison for Undervaluation to Avoid AD Duties
A Chinese citizen was sentenced to 16 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for understating the value of goods imported into the U.S. from China to avoid paying antidumping duties, reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement. From 2006 to 2010, Jin Qing Huang controlled Woncity and other companies that imported merchandise including plastic bags and other restaurant supplies from China, ICE said. Huang and Woncity operated warehouses in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. The bags were presumably subject to the antidumping duty order on polyethylene retail carrier bags from China, although ICE did not specify which AD order applied. Plastic bags exported from China and covered by that order are subject to a 77.57 percent antidumping duty, ICE said.
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On July 19, 2007, Huang imported merchandise into the U.S. from China, falsely stating that the value of merchandise was $52,494, when in fact the value was $82,196, ICE said. Similarly, on May 22, 2008, Huang imported goods into the U.S. from China, falsely stating that the value of goods was $10,073, when in fact the value was $30,118, it said. Huang admitted that he underpaid the legally required duty on imports, charged and not charged in this case, by an amount between $5,000 and $10,000, ICE said.