The United States has issued a preliminary anti-dumping (AD) duty of nearly 195% on certain plywood imports from Vietnam, placing the product among the highest tariff cases in recent U.S. trade defense actions.
If combined with the ongoing countervailing duty (CVD) investigation, the total duties applied to Vietnamese plywood entering the U.S. market could reach approximately 210%.
Preliminary Findings from the U.S. Department of Commerce
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), the preliminary anti-dumping margin for hardwood and decorative plywood imported from Vietnam ranges between 191.85% and 194.8%, after adjustments to avoid double counting export subsidies.
Two mandatory respondents were identified:
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Junma Phú Thọ Co., Ltd. – 194.8%
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Triệu Thái Sơn Co., Ltd. – 191.85%
In addition, 50 Vietnamese companies received a separate rate of 193.32%, which also serves as the nationwide rate applied to all remaining exporters.
As a result, virtually all Vietnamese exporters within the investigation scope currently face preliminary anti-dumping duties close to 192–195%.
Total Duties Could Reach 208.88%
The DOC is simultaneously conducting a countervailing duty investigation. When combined, the total potential tariff burden for Vietnamese plywood could reach 208.88%.
The investigation was initiated following a petition filed by the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, representing U.S. domestic producers.
Products under investigation mainly fall under HS codes 4412 (plywood) and 9403 (certain wooden components and furniture parts).
Vietnam is not the only country targeted in the case. China and Indonesia are also under investigation for both anti-dumping and countervailing duties.
Vietnam Faces Higher Anti-Dumping Margins Than Other Countries
Comparing the preliminary anti-dumping duties across the three countries:
| Country | Countervailing Duty (%) | Anti-Dumping Duty (%) | Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 81.34 | 185.96 | 267.3 |
| Vietnam | 15.56 | 193.32 | 208.88 |
| Indonesia | 128.66 | 38.27 | 166.93 |
While China faces the highest total duties overall, Vietnam’s preliminary anti-dumping margin is higher than China’s and significantly higher than Indonesia’s.
The DOC used Indonesia as the surrogate country when calculating dumping margins.
Use of “Adverse Facts Available” (AFA)
The DOC applied Adverse Facts Available (AFA) in its preliminary determination:
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Full AFA was applied to Junma Phú Thọ due to concerns about the reliability of submitted data and accounting records.
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Partial AFA was applied to Triệu Thái Sơn because certain data provided could not be fully verified.
The use of AFA typically leads to significantly higher duty margins.
Next Steps in the Investigation
Once the preliminary determination is published in the U.S. Federal Register, U.S. importers will be required to deposit duties based on the preliminary rates when clearing goods through customs.
However, the DOC found no evidence of critical circumstances, meaning imports did not surge significantly during the investigation period. As a result, retroactive duties will not be applied.
The final determination is expected within approximately 135 days after the preliminary announcement.
During this period, the DOC will:
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Accept comments and rebuttals from involved parties
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Possibly conduct hearings
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Perform on-site verifications at Vietnamese companies
Significant Implications for the Industry
Vietnam’s plywood exports to the United States have fluctuated in recent years:
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2022: USD 401 million
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2023: USD 186 million
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2024: USD 244 million
Nearly 100 Vietnamese companies have been named in the case.
If the preliminary tariffs remain unchanged in the final ruling, the duties could significantly alter Vietnam’s competitive position in the U.S. plywood market, creating substantial pressure for manufacturers and exporters.
The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam has advised affected companies to:
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Fully cooperate with investigators
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Carefully review product scope for potential exclusions
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Prepare transparent documentation and accounting records
Since this is only a preliminary determination, the final duty levels may still change depending on verification results and legal arguments during the investigation process.
Learn more about Misamex’s news in Vietnam:
m. (+84) 902 944 134 | e. xnyder@misamex.vn | w. https://misamex.vn/
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