US extends antidumping duties on China's lawn groomers

WASHINGTON - A US trade panel voted Monday to extend antidumping duties on tow-behind lawn groomers from China after the first five-year review of the measures imposed initially in 2009.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted against revoking the existing duty orders on lawn groomers from China, saying it "would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time."

The US Commerce Department is required to remove an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC vote against it, according to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

The United States initially issued the antidumping duty orders on imports of lawn groomers from China in 2009. The Commerce Department agreed to institute the first five-year review of the measures in July, 2014 and the ITC voted to conduct an expedited review in October, 2014.

In November 2014, the Commerce Department determined that revocation of the existing duty orders on lawn groomers from China would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at weighted-average margins up to 386.28 percent.

As a result of the ITC's affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of these products from China will remain in place.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to honor its commitment against protectionism and work with China to maintain a free, open and just trade environment.