Petition Filed for New AD/CVD on Fiberglass Door Panels From China
A domestic producer recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on fiberglass door panels imported from China. Commerce now will decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CVD orders and the assessment of AD and CVD on importers. The American Fiberglass Door Coalition, consisting of Therma-Tru Corporation, PlastPro Doors Inc. and Owens Corning, requested the investigation.
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The petition describes the products as "fiberglass door panels, which includes fiberglass sidelites, designed for permanent installation in a building. Fiberglass door panels are primarily used as exterior or entry doors in residential (e.g., single-family and multifamily) and mixed-use buildings, but may be used in non-residential applications such as barns, sheds, and storage buildings."
Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
"The merchandise covered by this investigation consists of fiberglass door panels, including fiberglass sidelites, whether finished or unfinished, whether assembled or unassembled, whether pre-hung or included in an entry door system. The subject fiberglass door panels, including fiberglass sidelites, consist of at least one fiberglass skin, frames typically made of wood or composite stiles, bottom rails, and top rails, binding materials, including adhesives or fasteners, insulation foam, and may be assembled with glass. Subject merchandise includes fiberglass door panels and sidelites whether the door surface is painted or unpainted, contains or does not contain cut-outs for door components, or assembled or unassembled with glass lites in the door.
"Fiberglass door panels and sidelites are covered by the investigation whether they are imported attached to, or in conjunction with door components and accessories (including but not limited to door jambs, door handles, locks, hinges, door stoppers, door kicks, door thresholds, and trim), in a pre-hung door system, or an entry door system. Subject fiberglass door panels and sidelites are covered whether they are accompanied by other parts. However, if a subject fiberglass door panel or sidelite is imported in a pre-hung door system or entry door system, only the fiberglass door panel and sidelite are covered by the scope.
"Subject merchandise may be impact-rated to withstand hurricane force wind loads and may be reinforced with steel sheet or plate. Subject merchandise may be fire rated for up to 90 minutes and may contain flame retardant composites but not limited to flame retardant foam or mineral core materials.
"Subject merchandise also includes fiberglass door panels and sidelites that have been processed in a third country, including but not limited to one or more of the following: filling with insulation foam, trimming, cutting, notching, punching, drilling, painting, finishing, assembly, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product. The inclusion of other parts, such as door components and accessories (including but not limited to door jambs, door handles, locks, hinges, door stoppers, door kicks, door thresholds, and trim) in a third country does not remove the fiberglass door panels and sidelites from the scope.
"Imports of subject merchandise are classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical number 3925.20.0010. Subject merchandise may also be classified under 4418.29.4000, 4418.29.8030, 4418.29.8060, or 7019.90.51.50. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive."
ITC and Commerce to Accept Comments Before Initiating Investigation
The Commerce Department and the ITC will accept comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, the ITC and Commerce will initiate AD/CVD investigations.