The Department of Commerce announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of multilayered wood flooring form the People's Republic of China. According to the International Trade Administration Fact Sheet dated March 22, Commerce preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters have received countervailable subsidies ranging from zero to 27.01 percent ad valorem (ad valorem is a form of tax.)

According to the Fact Sheet, mandatory respondent Fine Furniture Ltd. and its affiliates Great Wood Ltd. and Fine Furniture Plantation (Shishou Ltd.) received a preliminary net subsidy rate of 2.25 percent ad valorem. Mandatory respondents Zhejiang Layo Wood Industry Co., Ltd. and its affiliate Jiaxing Brilliant Import & Export Co. Ltd. and Zhejiang Yuhua Timber Co., Ltd. received preliminary net subsidy rates of zero.

In addition, it reported that Commerce assigned 127 companies an adverse facts available rate of 27.01 percent ad valorem, for failing to respond to requests for information.

All other Chinese producers/exporters received a preliminary net subsidy rate of 2.25 percent ad valorem. As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on these preliminary rates.

Commerce is currently scheduled to make its final determination in June 2011.