October 10, 2014
News Release 14-103
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-523 and 731-TA-1259 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of boltless steel shelving prepackaged for sale from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about November 19, 2014, and its antidumping duty determination due on or about February 2, 2015.

The Commission's public report Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-523 and 731-TA-1259 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4495, October 2014) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after November 10, 2014. After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

Product Description: Boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale ("boltless steel shelving") are units prepackaged for sale that include all the steel vertical supports (i.e., uprights and posts) and steel horizontal supports (i.e., beams, braces) necessary to assemble a completed shelving unit (with or without decks (i.e., shelves)) by the ultimate end user. Also in the scope of these investigations are add-on kits for the expansion of the system. The term "boltless" refers to steel shelving in which the vertical and horizontal supports forming the frame are assembled primarily without the use of nuts and bolts or screws, and without tools. The vertical and horizontal support members for boltless steel shelving are assembled by fitting a rivet, punched or cut tab, or other similar connector on one support into a hole, slot, or similar receptacle on another support. The supports lock together to form the frame for the shelving unit. Boltless steel shelving is used for storage in homes, garages, offices, and commercial and industrial operations.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigations: Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.   Petitioner: Edsal Manufacturing Co., Inc., Chicago, IL. 
3.   Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: August 26, 2014.
4.   Commission's conference: September 16, 2014.
5.   USITC vote: October 10, 2014.
6.   USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: October 10, 2014.
7.   USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: October 20, 2014.

U.S. Industry:

1.   Number of producers in 2013: Four.
2.   Location of producers' plants:  Delaware, Florida, Illinois, and Tennessee.
3.   Employment of production and related workers in 2013: (1)
4.   Apparent U.S. consumption in 2013: (1)
5.   Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2013: (1)

U.S. Imports:

1.   From the subject country during 2013: (1)
2.   From other countries during 2013: (1) 
3.   Leading source during 2013: China (in terms of total value and quantity).

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.