The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has preliminarily ruled against Viet Nam in anti-dumping investigations of mattress innerspring units, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade reported this week.

The US department was undergoing anti-dumping investigations to determine if imported units from China, South Africa, and Viet Nam were selling products in the United States at less than normal values.

"DOC preliminarily ruled that Chinese, South African, and Vietnamese producers/exporters have sold innersprings in the United States at 118.17 to 234.51 per cent; 121.39 per cent; and 116.31 per cent less than normal value, respectively," reported a fact sheet released by the International Trade Administration, a part of DOC.

"The preliminary margins for the South Africa and Viet Nam investigations are based on adverse facts available because exporters from these countries failed to respond to DOC’s requests for information," the fact sheet stated.

As a result of these preliminary rulings, DOC will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates.

A final decision will be made in October of this year. If the DOC makes a final affirmative determination, the DOC will issue anti-dumping orders.

According to the fact sheet, imports of innersprings from China, South Africa and Viet Nam were valued at an estimated US$13.7 million, $3.6 million, and $657,000 respectively last year.

Also according to the sheet, Viet Nam exported $1.57 million worth of innersprings to the US in 2006 and the figure for 2005 was $467,643.

Leggett&Platt, Incorporated (MO) is the petitioner for these investigations.

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