US slaps duties on ribbons from China, Taiwan

The United States on Friday slapped preliminary anti-dumping duties ranging up to 231.4 percent on gift box and other types of narrow woven ribbons from China it said were unfairly priced.

The US Commerce Department hit Taiwan, which exports far more ribbons to the United States, with much lower duties ranging up to 4.54 percent.

The action came on the same day that Beijing announced heavy anti-dumping duties on U.S. chicken parts, in the latest of a series of spats that have strained trade relations.

But the case filed by Berwick Offray, a 65-year-old US company based in Berwick, Pennsylvania that claims to be the  world's largest manufacturer and distributor of decorative ribbons and bows, has been in the works for months.

US companies have filed dozens of trade cases against their Chinese competitors in recent years, complaining of unfair trade practices and below-market pricing.

Berwick was joined in the case by its wholly owned subsidiary, Lion Ribbon Co, a 110-year-old firm.

Imports of the narrow woven ribbons totaled $68.1 million in value from Taiwan and $32.7 million from China in 2007.

But shipments fell dramatically in 2008, when the financial crisis battered U.S. consumer demands.

Imports totaled $32.4 million from Taiwan and $12.1 million from China in first 11 months of 2009.

The US Commerce Department said one Chinese firm, Yama Ribbons and Bows Co, would not be hit with any duties.

But it imposed a preliminary rate of 115.7 percent on 13 other producers or exporters and a China-wide rate of 231.40 percent on other firms.  

Taiwan companies Dear Year Brothers Mfg Co Ltd, Shienq Huong Enterprise Co, Hsien Chan Enterprise Co and Novelty Handicrafts Co were also spared any duties.

All other Taiwanese producers or exporters were hit with a preliminary duty of 4.54 percent.

The Commerce Department will issue its final calculation of anti-dumping duties on both countries in June.