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Letter to the Editor

Domestic Manufacturers PPG, Safelite, and Apogee Enterprises, Inc. Bring Antidumping Complaint Against Imports of Chinese Replacement Windshields

WASHINGTON -- PPG Industries, Inc., Apogee Enterprises, Inc., and Safelite Glass Corporation have petitioned for relief from dumping of automotive replacement glass (ARG) windshields imported from the People's Republic of China.

"We are bringing this action to obtain relief under our trade remedy laws from significant injury that is being caused by rapidly increasing imports of unfairly low-priced ARG windshields from China," said Patricia A. Beithon, corporate secretary and general counsel. "In the past three years, we have seen some U.S. producers ceasing operations, while others, including Apogee, have sustained substantial financial harm," she said.

Apogee, Safelite and PPG petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission jointly, alleging that Chinese producers have caused them material injury by importing ARG windshields at prices so low they violate U.S. law and international trade rules.

"This is a mature market, with demand growing at a relatively slow pace. The imports from China last year were more than 50 percent higher than in 1999, and several times higher than three years ago. We believe the companies that are filing this petition are as efficient and competitive as anyone in our industry. We don't believe, however, that any company can produce and ship replacement windshields at the low prices we're seeing from China without losing money," Beithon commented. "Let's be clear. This isn't a matter of the U.S. industry not being able to compete with foreign producers who are simply more efficient or competitive. No industry can sustain the adverse effects that result from such rapid increases in unfairly low-priced product without experiencing substantial economic harm. U.S. trade remedy laws and international trade agreements condemn the kinds of practices engaged in by Chinese ARG windshield producers and exporters. We are exercising our right under those laws and agreements to restore fairness to our market."

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. Antidumping investigations usually take about a year to complete, but preliminary duties could be imposed within 160 days from the filing of the petition.

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