US Tells CIT to Accept Remand Results Excluding Plywood From AD/CVD Scope

The U.S. urged the Court of International Trade to uphold the Commerce Department's remand results in which it found that Vietnam Finewood Co.'s hardwood plywood made using two-ply panels imported to Vietnam from China is not subject to the scope of the AD/CVD orders on hardwood plywood from China. Submitting remand comments to the court, the agency said that since no party contests the remand results, the court should uphold them (Far East American v. United States, CIT Consol. # 22-00049).

While the AD/CVD petitioner Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood said that it believes Commerce's original determination including the products in the orders' scope is correct, it believes the remand results comply with the court's order (see 2307200009). The original decision said that Vietnam Finewood's panels were not substantially transformed by further processing in Vietnam, meaning their true country of origin is China.

A lawyer close to the case said in an email that the lack of contest should lead to a quick affirmation of the remand results from the trade court.