Stoughton Wins Round in Container Anti-Dumping Case
The U.S. Department of Commerce has ruled in an anti-dumping case brought by equipment manufacturer Stoughton Trailers that Chinese manufacturers of 53-foot containers for intermodal service must make payments into an escrow account to cover trade tariffs.
The ruling, which is preliminary, requires CIMC, Singamas and other manufacturers to make those cash deposits based until a final decision is made, a statement issued by Stoughton said. Payments are based on a percentage of the sale price.
The Wisconsin-based manufacturer of trailers and domestic containers in April claimed that the Chinese makers of dry containers were selling those units at unfairly low prices. Domestic containers are the fastest-growing type of truck-rail freight.
“China has ‘dumped’ domestic container products into the U.S. market at prices that are well below fair value,” Stoughton President Robert Wahlin said at the time the original complaint was filed. “Chinese manufacturers receive an array of government subsidies, not to mention that country’s manipulation of currency exchange rates. All of these factors equate to an enormous unfair advantage for Chinese manufacturers of these products.”
The percentages were set at 10.5% for CIMC, 7.1% for Singamas and 8.8% for other manufacturers, with all imported 53-foot boxes subject to that requirement.
A related aspect of the case, which will evaluate whether there should be additional financial anti-dumping penalties, is scheduled for a decision in November, Stoughton’s statement said.
A final decision in both aspects of the case is expected next year. Between now and then, the Commerce Department will do additional investigations.
