On October 12, 2022, Smead Manufacturing Company (“Smead”) and TOPS Products LLC (“TOPS”), collectively known as (“Petitioners”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Paper File Folders from China, India, and Vietnam.
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The following language describes the imported merchandise that Petitioner intends to be included in the scope of these investigations:
The products within the scope of these investigations are file folders consisting primarily of paper, paperboard, pressboard, or other cellulose material, whether coated or uncoated, that has been folded (or creased in preparation to be folded), glued, taped, bound, or otherwise assembled to be suitable for holding documents. The scope includes all such folders, regardless of color, whether or not expanding, and with or without tabs, fasteners, closures, hooks, rods, hangers, pockets, gussets, or internal dividers.
Subject folders, which typically are used to hold letter and legal size documents, have the following dimensions in their folded and closed position: a length and width of at least 8 inches and no greater than 17 inches, regardless of depth.
The scope covers all varieties of folders, including but not limited to manila folders, hanging folders, fastener folders, classification folders, expanding folders, pockets, jackets, and wallets.
Imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) category 4820.30.0040 and may appear in other HTSUS categories,
including 4820.30.0020. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.
PETITIONERS
Smead Manufacturing Company, Inc.
600 Smead Blvd
Hastings, MN 55033
Telephone: (651) 438-2034
Website: https://www.smead.com
Contact: Casey Avent
TOPS Products LLC
184 Shuman Blvd., Suite #130
Naperville, IL 60563
Telephone: (630) 821-3145
Website: https://www.tops-products.com
Contact: David Garber
David.a.garber@tops-products.com
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
J. Michael Taylor
Stephen P. Vaughn
Daniel L. Schneiderman
Barbara Medrado
Bonnie B. Byers, Consultant
Edmond A. O’Neill, Consultant
King & Spalding LLP
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 737-0500
NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS
For a list of foreign producers/exporters alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment I.
NAMED IMPORTERS
For a list of importers alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment II.
ALLEGED SUBSIDIES
For a list of alleged subsidies by Petitioner, please see Attachment III.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
| Event | Earliest Date |
| Petition Filed | October 12, 2022 |
| DOC Initiation | November 1, 2022 |
| ITC Preliminary Investigation: | |
| Questionnaires Due | October 26, 2022 |
| Request to appear at hearing | October 31, 2022 |
| Hearing | November 2, 2022 |
| Briefs | November 7, 2022 |
| ITC Vote | November 26, 2022 |
| DOC Investigation Schedule: | |
| DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination | March 21, 2023 |
| DOC Final Antidumping Determination | June 4, 2023 |
| DOC Preliminary Countervailing Determination | January 5, 2023 |
| DOC Countervailing Determination | March 21, 2023 |
| ITC Final Investigation: | |
| ITC Final AD Determination | May 5, 2023 |
| ITC Final CVD Determination | July 19, 2023 |
IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| China | |||
| Quantity(lbs) | 30980867.25 | 18531985.01 | 10952424.09 |
| Value ($) | $48,631,809.00 | $24,199,009.00 | $17,541,372.00 |
| AUV ($/lbs) | 0.64 | 0.77 | 0.62 |
| India | |||
| Quantity(lbs) | 5284482.63 | 4608829.73 | 6959039.02 |
| Value ($) | $2,397,001.00 | $2,090,530.00 | $8,209,809.00 |
| AUV ($/lbs) | 2.20 | 2.20 | 0.85 |
| Vietnam | |||
| Quantity(lbs) | 1809554.25 | 9173507.48 | 13970175.47 |
| Value ($) | $3,264,896.00 | $19,546,231.00 | $24,290,875.00 |
| AUV ($/lbs) | 0.55 | 0.47 | 0.58 |
CONTACT US For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Jeffrey Neeley, Nithya Nagarajan, or Stephen Brophy.