Petitions Filed Requesting the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Hardwood and Decorative Plywood from Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam - Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP

On May 22, 2025, The Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on the imports of hardwood and decorative plywood from Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The petition alleges dumping margins of 202.8% from Indonesia, 474.2% from China, and 112.33% to 133.72% from Vietnam.

The merchandise subject to this investigation is hardwood and decorative plywood, and certain veneered panels as described below. For purposes of this proceeding, hardwood and decorative plywood is defined as a generally flat, multilayered plywood or other veneered panel, consisting of two or more layers or plies of wood veneers in combination with a core or without a core. The veneers, along with the core, may be glued or otherwise bonded together. A hardwood and decorative plywood panel must have at least either the face or back veneer composed of one or more species of hardwood, softwood, or bamboo. Hardwood and decorative plywood may include products that meet the American National Standard for Hardwood and Decorative Plywood, ANSI/HPVA HP-1-2024 (including any revisions to that standard). Please see the petition for a more detailed description of the covered merchandise and exclusions.

The projected date of International Trade Commission’s Preliminary Conference is June 12, 2025. The earliest theoretical date for retroactive suspension of liquidation for AD is July 31, 2025. CVD is June 11, 2025.

Please feel free to contact one of our attorneys for further information, including a complete scope description, complete projected schedule for the AD investigation; the volume and value of imports; and list of identified foreign exporters and U.S. importers.
 

Federal Register Notices:

• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Hardwood Plywood Products From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Administrative Reviews of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, Final Determination of No Shipments; 2021-2022
• Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar From the Republic of Türkiye: Final Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Float Glass Products From Malaysia: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Float Glass Products From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Flash-Spun Nonwoven Materials and Products Containing Same; Notice of Commission Determination Not To Review an Initial Determination Granting Complainants' Unopposed Motion To Amend the Complaint and Notice of Investigation
• Certain Video-Capable Laptop, Desktop Computers, Handheld Computers, Tablets, Televisions, Projectors, and Components and Modules Thereof; Notice of Institution of Investigation
• Procedures for Submissions by Importers of Automobiles Qualifying for Preferential Tariff Treatment Under the USMCA To Determine U.S. Content
• Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Ferrosilicon From Kazakhstan: Amended Final Countervailing Duty Determination; Ferrosilicon From Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia: Countervailing Duty Orders
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Investigations, Orders, etc.: Less-Than-Fair Value and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Fiberglass Door Panels and Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes From the People's Republic of China; Correction
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Ferrosilicon From Malaysia: Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Ferrosilicon From Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia: Antidumping Duty Orders
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Silicon Metal From Australia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Norway, and Thailand: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Italy: Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025
• Disposable Aluminum Containers, Pans, Trays, and Lids From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances; and Disposable Aluminum Containers, Pans, Trays, and Lids From the People's Republic of China: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders; Correction
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe From China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results and Rescission in Part of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
• Certain Aluminum Foil From the Republic of Türkiye: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Dioctyl Terephthalate From Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and the Republic of Türkiye: Antidumping Duty Orders
• Raw Honey From Argentina: Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021-2023
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Hexamine From China, Germany, India, and Saudi Arabia; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (“2,4-D”) From China and India
• Epoxy Resins From China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Welded Stainless Steel Pressure Pipe From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
   

FDA and CBP Seize Nearly $34 Million Worth of Illegal E-Cigarettes During Joint Operation - Food & Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the seizure of nearly two million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products in Chicago, with an estimated retail value of $33.8 million. The seizures, which occurred in February of this year in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), were part of a joint federal operation to examine incoming shipments and prevent illegal e-cigarettes from entering the country.

During this operation, the team uncovered shipments of various illegal e-cigarette products, almost all of which originated in China and were intended for shipment to various U.S. states. FDA and CBP personnel determined that, in an apparent attempt to evade duties and the review of products for import safety concerns, many of these unauthorized e-cigarette shipments contained vague product descriptions with incorrect values. Upon examining shipments, the team found several brands of unauthorized e-cigarettes, including Snoopy Smoke, Raz, and others.

“The FDA, working with our federal partners, can and will do more to stop the illegal importation and distribution of e-cigarette products in the United States,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Seizures of illegal e-cigarettes keep products that haven’t been authorized by the FDA out of the United States and out of the hands of our nation’s youth.”

These seizures are another example of coordinated compliance and enforcement actions across federal agencies to curb the distribution and sale of illegal e-cigarettes. In the lead up to this operation, the joint FDA and CBP team identified potentially violative incoming shipments and completed other investigative work. The team was also able to successfully implement several new internal efficiencies and procedures building off previous operations.

“We continue to see an increased number of shipments of vaping related products packaged and mislabeled to avoid detection,” said Bret Koplow, Ph.D., J.D., Acting Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “However, we have been successful at preventing these shipments from entering the U.S. supply chain – despite efforts to conceal the true identity of these unauthorized e-cigarette products.”

Most shipments violated the FDA’s Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), while some products were also seized for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations for unauthorized use of protected trademarks. All of the e-cigarette products seized in this operation lacked the mandatory premarket authorization orders from the FDA and therefore cannot be legally marketed or distributed in the United States.

Standard practice for products forfeited to the government include disposing of the products in accordance with the law. In the case of unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, that generally means they will be destroyed.

FDA also sent, for the first time, import informational letters to 24 tobacco importers and entry filers responsible for importing these illegal e-cigarettes. The letters advise the recipients that it is a federal crime to make false statements or entries to the U.S. government, and the FDA seeks information on the steps they have taken to ensure compliance with applicable federal tobacco laws and regulations. Specifically, the letters advise the firms to ensure their import entries contain complete and accurate information moving forward. Failure to do so may also be viewed as an intentional attempt to circumvent the FDA’s review of the shipment. Firms are requested to respond to the letters within 30 days with the requested information.

FDA and CBP are members of a federal task force focused on e-cigarette enforcement. Previous FDA-CBP joint actions include the seizure of $18 million of illegal e-cigarettes at a cargo examination site in Los Angeles International Airport in 2023, seizure of $7 million of illegal e-cigarettes at a warehouse in Miami, and operations in Chicago announced in June and October of 2024 resulting in the seizure of illegal e-cigarettes valued at more than $77 million.

In addition to product seizures, the FDA has issued over 750 warning letters to firms for manufacturing, selling, or distributing unauthorized new tobacco products. It has also issued more than 800 warning letters to retailers for selling these products and filed civil money penalty complaints against 87 manufacturers and over 175 retailers for their distribution or sale.
 

Ceramic Tile from India Threatens U.S. Industry, Says USITC - U.S. International Trade Commission

The United States International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of ceramic tile from India that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are subsidized by the government of India.

Chair Amy Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from India. 

The Commission’s public report on Ceramic Tile from India (Inv. No. 701-TA-720 (Final), USITC Publication 5630, June 2025) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available by June 30, 2025; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website.

Status of proceedings, links to relevant documents, and more information about these investigations can be found at the Commission’s Investigations Database System (IDS).
 

CBP Houston Announces Seizure of Counterfeit Apple Phone Chargers Worth over $7 million - U.S. Customs & Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Area Port of Houston/Galveston today announced the seizure of 373,000 counterfeit USB phone chargers (lightning cables) with an appraised MSRP of just over $7 million. 7,460 cartons containing the phone charges bore the “Apple” trademark, and was confirmed to be counterfeit by both CBP and Apple representatives. CBP’s Houston Seaport Trade Enforcement Team made the discovery.

“Criminal networks are using e-Commerce to ship their items to unsuspecting consumers and exploit the high volume of cargo processed by CBP,” said CBP Acting Area Port Director John Landry. “Counterfeit activities negatively impact American legitimate jobs and counterfeiters don’t pay taxes. They hurt innovation by stealing intellectual property from registered trademarks and the counterfeits are often produced under unsanitary labor exploitation conditions. Consumers deserve the real deal when spending their hard-earned money on these products.”

Intellectual Property Rights protection is a top priority for CBP. We commit substantial resources in identifying and seizing counterfeit products at our local ports. Highly trained teams of CBP officers and import specialists regularly conduct ongoing operations to intercept and disrupt counterfeit merchandise smuggling operations. CBP enforces over 400 laws for 40 U.S. agencies and is committed to protecting consumers and enforcing U.S. trade laws. CBP partners with HSI to combat the trafficking of counterfeits and deliver consequences to criminal organizations, denying bad actors to benefit from this illicit activity.

Counterfeiting is stealing, period, and it is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods. Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties and purchasing counterfeit goods often supports criminal activities, such as forced labor or human trafficking.

Consumers are reminded to only buy from legitimate sources and pay attention on how much you are paying. If it is too good to be true it probably is!

For the last three years, the top commodities seized for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringement with the highest total MSRP have been (1) Jewelry, (2) Watches, and (3) Handbags/Wallets. Additionally, China and Hong Kong are consistently the top two source countries for IPR seizures. In Fiscal Year 2024, seizures from China and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 90% of the total quantity seized.

There are many ways consumers can protect themselves from spending their money on fakes:

• Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
• Know the market value of the item you are purchasing. If the item is priced well below what it should be, it could be counterfeit. If a price seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Look for legitimate web sites that offer customer service contact information and return policies.
• Review CBP’s E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.

Trade in counterfeit and pirated goods threatens America’s innovation economy, the competitiveness of our businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and, in some cases, national security and the health and safety of consumers. To combat the entry of counterfeit and pirated goods into America, CBP targets and seizes imports of counterfeit and pirated goods and enforces exclusion orders on patent-infringing and other IPR violative goods.

The dangers of buying counterfeit products aren’t always obvious to consumers. Particularly, when shopping online, beware of counterfeit goods. Fake goods can lead to real dangers. For more information, visit The Truth Behind Counterfeits page.
 

FMC Investigating Flagging Practices - Federal Maritime Commission

The Federal Maritime Commission is conducting a nonadjudicatory investigation to examine whether the vessel flagging laws, regulations, or practices of certain foreign governments create unfavorable shipping conditions in the foreign trade of the United States.

The investigation commences with a 90-day public comment period. The Commission is seeking examples of unfavorable flagging laws, regulations, and practices that endanger the efficiency and reliability of the ocean shipping supply chain. The specific topics of Commission interest are enumerated in the order announcing this investigation.

The Commission is particularly interested in receiving comments from individuals and organizations with expertise or experience in vessel operations, international trade, international law, and national security. Examples of such commenters include other governments, international organizations, standards-setting organizations, shipowners, shipping companies, shippers, and organized labor groups.

Commenters may also identify actions that high-quality registries can take to lower costs and compliance burdens so long as they do not result in diluting standards.

The Federal Maritime Commission is authorized to conduct comprehensive investigations and take vigorous enforcement measures when appropriate, including when foreign laws or practices cause unfavorable shipping conditions.

The deadline for submitting comments is August 20, 2025.
 

Let’s talk about scams this Older Americans Month - Federal Trade Commission

Older adults may come from different backgrounds, but one thing they have in common is wisdom gained from life experience. This Older Americans Month, whatever your age, the FTC encourages you to share your wisdom about avoiding scams and fraud with the older adults in your life.

Pass It On, the FTC’s fraud education campaign for older adults, has clear, direct advice about more than a dozen fraud topics. At ftc.gov/PassItOn, you can read articles online or download resources, like activity sheets and bookmarks, and watch videos about scams that target older adults. Thousands of community organizations have already shared these materials, helping protect people across the country. So, spread the word, guard yourself against fraud, and help others do the same in celebration of Older Americans Month.

Here are some ideas for starting conversations.

• If you’re interested in investing some of your hard-earned money, learn more about investment scams.
• If you’re worried about identity theft, start by reading about how identity theft works and what to do. Then watch the video 5 Ways to Help Protect Your Identity.
• If you get government benefits, be alert if you’re contacted by anyone who says they’re from Social Security, Medicare, or another government agency. It could be a government impersonator scam.

Be sure to subscribe to Consumer Alerts to keep up to date on the latest scams, and tell the FTC about any fraud you encounter at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.