Leggett asks government to stop innerspring dumping

Carthage-based Fortune 500 company Leggett & Platt has petitioned the U. S. government to stop China, South Africa, and Vietnam dumping innersprings on the American marketplace, according to Furniture Today:

The antidumping petition was filed Dec. 31 by Leggett & Platt, the largest U.S. innerspring producer, on behalf of the U.S. innerspring industry.

It said the petition asks that antidumping duties be collected on the imports to offset the amount of the alleged dumping, or sale of goods at below cost. The petition alleges that such duties could exceed 100%.

The petition says “uncovered innersprings” should include both pocketed and non-pocketed innerspring units, ISPA said.

The trade association said the petition will be processed by two U.S. agencies. The International Trade Commission will decide whether unfairly traded imports are injuring the U.S. industry, and the Department of Commerce will determine if the imported products are being dumped.

According to the ISPA report, the DOC will decide by Jan. 22 whether the petition makes sufficient allegations to initiate an investigation. If the DOC initiates an investigation, the ITC will hold a conference in Washington on Jan. 22 in which the parties will present testimony and other information on the injury issue.