Domestic Manufacturers Seek Relief From Chinese Replacement Windshield Dumping

    WASHINGTON--Feb. 28, 2001--PPG Industries and two other domestic makers of automotive replacement (ARG) windshields today petitioned for relief from dumping of replacement windshields imported from China.
    "The U.S. replacement windshield industry has sustained significant injury from rapidly increasing imports of very low-priced ARG windshields from China," said Garry A. Goudy, PPG vice president of auto replacement glass. "One U.S. producer has ceased operation, and the rest have experienced substantial financial harm," he said.
    PPG, Safelite Glass Corp. and Viracon/Curvlite petitioned the U.S. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission jointly, charging that Chinese producers have caused them material injury by importing ARG windshields at prices below fair value.
    "We believe that the petitioning manufacturers are as efficient as anyone in the industry, but we do not believe that anyone can produce and ship replacement windshields at prices we're seeing from China without losing money," Goudy said.
    "If China's domestic market were open and subject to the same profit discipline we are," he continued, "we could take the competition to their market. Unfortunately, their market is closed to imports and their production distorted by central planning, and we are the victims. Our petition is the remedy provided by law and international agreements to restore competitive market balance when foreign producers dump products in the U.S."
    The two U.S. agencies are expected to review the petition and investigate its allegations which, if confirmed, would result in imposition of antidumping duties on ARG windshields imported from China. Such investigations usually take about a year, but preliminary duties could be imposed within 160 days.
    Internet: www.ppg.com