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U.S. CUSTOMS FINDS ATTEMPTED EVASION OF DUTIES ON QUARTZ SURFACE PRODUCTS FROM CHINA
Fifteen U.S. importers have allegedly evaded antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on quartz surface products from China, according to a preliminary determination rendered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency.
The action by trade officials, announced this week by Cambria Company LLC, “is evidence of a sophisticated and coordinated effort on behalf of China to circumvent tariffs and violate existing U.S. trade law,” according to the Le Sueur, MN-based producer of quartz surface products.
About Cambria:
Cambria Company LLC, headquartered in Le Sueur, MN, is the leading domestic producer of quartz surface products. It is a family-owned, American-made company that employs more than 2,000 people in the United States.
Eloise Goldman Cambria 952-944-1676 [email protected]
Source: Cambria
Minneapolis, MN, March 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The leading U.S. producer of quartz surface products, Cambria Company LLC (“Cambria”), announces that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (“Customs”) has preliminarily determined that fifteen U.S. importers have evaded the antidumping and countervailing duties (“AD/CVD”) on quartz surface products from China.
In April of 2018 Cambria initiated a petition before the Department of Commerce and the United States International Trade Commission alleging unfair trading of quartz surface products from China. At that time, dumped and subsidized Chinese quartz imports harmed American industry and workers by displacing over $1 billion per year of domestic product. Cambria’s successful petition resulted in U.S. Customs levying duties of up to 500% to halt the import of unfairly traded Chinese quartz into the U.S. marketplace.
This announcement by U.S. Customs is evidence of a sophisticated and coordinated effort on behalf of China to circumvent tariffs and violate existing U.S. trade law.
“Importers of illegal quartz surface products are on notice. U.S. Customs, Cambria, and other domestic quartz producers will not allow transshipping and illicit schemes that violate existing U.S. trade laws and tariffs imposed by the Commerce and Trade Departments,” said Marty Davis, President and CEO of Cambria. “Cambria will continue its work to ensure free and fair trade on a level playing field for American businesses, and in doing so protecting U.S. manufacturers and their employees from illegal foreign trade. We applaud the diligence of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and appreciate their continued work to ensure that U.S. manufacturers are able to compete fairly. You cannot have free trade without fair trade.”
As part of its recent determination regarding evasion, Customs found that fifteen importers evaded the AD/CVD duties on Chinese imports by importing quartz surface products that were made in China and then transshipped through Malaysia before entering the United States without payment of the duties. The fifteen importers identified are:
AAA Innovation LLC
Astera Kitchen and Bath, Inc.
FTR LLC
GHS Group, LLC
Gin Investments Corp.
Gold Stone Kitchen Depot Inc.
Granite Collection Inc.
Ilkem Marble & Granite Inc.
Next Generation Marble and Granite LLC
North Creation Granite Co.
RQ Sales Co. LLC
RQ Sales LLC
The Top Shop, Inc.
Total Scope Cabinets and Tops LLC
YNJ Management LLC
Transshipping Company
Meda Zz Enterprise
Additional research by Cambria shows that a significant portion of the quartz surface products that are shipped from Malaysia to the United States are actually made in China and thus subject to the AD/CVD duties. Cambria continues to work with Customs to identify and hold responsible any foreign exporters and U.S. importers that are evading the AD/CVD duties through transshipment or any other evasion scheme.
Customs is conducting its investigation pursuant to the Enforce and Protect Act (“EAPA”). Many U.S. importers know when they are purchasing transshipped Chinese merchandise and, as a result, that they are engaging in illegal evasion. However, EAPA does not have a knowledge requirement for Customs to find that evasion is taking place. In fact, one of the importers identified as participating in the evasion scheme has claimed to Customs that it never had any contact with the Malaysian transshipment company and purchased the quartz surface products through a U.S. company that claimed to be a partner in the Malaysian company. To avoid getting caught up in evasion schemes, U.S. companies need to be aware that any low-priced quartz surface products imported from Malaysia or other third countries may be Chinese merchandise. The purchase of this low-priced merchandise may ultimately subject U.S. companies to liability for payment of the AD/CVD duties.
Customs will issue a more detailed memorandum explaining its initial determination of evasion. Following this initial determination, Customs has seven months to continue its investigation and determine appropriate penalties.
