Turner leads bipartisan letter on behalf of American candle manufacturers
Congressman Mike Turner was joined today by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers in writing to Secretary of Commerce John Bryson to express their concerns regarding recent scope ruling requests with the U.S. Department of Commerce that could undermine the antidumping duty order on petroleum wax candles from China.
“The 108.3 percent antidumping duty on petroleum wax candles from China is critically important to the preservation of the U.S. candle manufacturing industry. If the Department does not maintain and strictly enforce its specific definitions for the excluded candles, we fear that the effectiveness of the antidumping duty order will be negatively impacted,” wrote the lawmakers.
Last year, Turner wrote to then- Commerce Secretary Gary Locke requesting that he support an inclusive interpretation of the antidumping duty order to ensure effective enforcement against unfair trade practices from China.
In a win for American candle manufacturers, a statement by the Department clarified that the scope of the order covers candles of all shapes, sizes, styles and types, excluding birthday, utility, and figurine candles. However, just four months after the publication of the final results, there are a number of requests to challenge the Department’s narrow exclusions and erode the scope of the order.
“We respectfully urge the Department to uphold the scope of the order and strictly apply the definitions of excluded candles,” concluded the lawmakers.
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The letter to Commerce Secretary Bryson follows below.
The Honorable John Bryson
Secretary of Commerce
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th Street and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Secretary Bryson:
We write on behalf of our constituents and the National Candle Association to express concerns regarding recent scope ruling requests filed by importers with the U.S. Department of Commerce that could undermine the antidumping duty order on petroleum wax candles from China.
Last year, we wrote to Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke requesting that he support an inclusive interpretation of the antidumping duty order to ensure effective enforcement against unfair trade practices from China.
We applaud the Department’s August 2, 2011, “Final Results of Request for Comments on the Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order,” which clarified that the scope of the order covers candles of all shapes, sizes, styles and types, excluding birthday, utility, and figurine candles. However, just four months after the publication of the final results, there are a number of requests to challenge the Department’s narrow exclusions and erode the scope of the order.
The 108.3 percent antidumping duty on petroleum wax candles from China is critically important to the preservation of the U.S. candle manufacturing industry. If the Department does not maintain and strictly enforce its specific definitions for the excluded candles, we fear that the effectiveness of the antidumping duty order will be negatively impacted.
We respectfully urge the Department to uphold the scope of the order and strictly apply the definitions of excluded candles.
Thank you for your consideration of this important issue to our constituents and the U.S. candle industry.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Turner
Walter B. Jones
Richard E. Neal
Mike Ross
James B. Renacci
cc: Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, International Trade Administration
Matthew T. McGuire, Assistant to the Secretary, Director, Office of Business Liaison
Gary Taverman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations