Washington, DC – US mattress manufacturers have filed an antidumping duty petition against Chinese producers.
The petition with the US Department of Commerce and US International Trade Commission cites unfair trading practices. it claims Chinese companies, are selling mattresses below cost and hurting US industry.
Nine companies have signed the petition – Corsicana Mattress, Elite Comfort Solutions, Future Foam, FXI, Innocor, Kolcraft Enterprises, Leggett & Platt, Serta Simmons and Tempur Sealy International.
The petition explains how imports of foam and inner-spring mattresses from China are causing material injury and threat of material injury to the US mattress industry. They allege dumping margins ranging from 267% to 1777%. The margin is the difference between the Chinese producers’ US prices, and a normal value calculated under US trade law.
It is a response to the rapid increase of low-priced imports of mattresses from China. They claim that between 2015 and 2017, imports rose by 218%, and have continued to rise in 2018. ‘By relying on dumped prices, including adult mattresses sold at $18/mattress, Chinese exporters have captured increasing market share at the expense of the US industry and US jobs,’ they say.
The petition has the support of the International Sleep Products Association. ‘[Members] have the right under US law and global trade rules to compete on a level playing field,’ the Association said. ‘The US Department of Commerce and US International Trade Commission should carefully investigate the claims of dumping and provide the US mattress industry the appropriate relief provided for under US law.’
The investigation is expected to take about a year to complete. A preliminary determination imposing antidumping duty deposits should be available within about six months.
