U.S. Hits Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese Plywood Imports with Heavy Antidumping Duties

Event summary

  • U.S. Commerce Department imposed preliminary antidumping duties on hardwood and decorative plywood from China (187.27%), Indonesia (19.98%–84.94%), and Vietnam (196.14%) on February 25, 2026.
  • Duties come on top of earlier countervailing duties ranging from 2.40% to 128.66% for Indonesia, 4.37% to 26.75% for Vietnam, and 81.34% for China.
  • Final determinations scheduled for mid-May 2026 (China) and mid-July 2026 (Indonesia, Vietnam), with potential extension to July 2026 for China.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting duties immediately upon Federal Register publication.
  • Commerce found 'critical circumstances' for Chinese imports, allowing retroactive duties on entries from 90 days before the preliminary determination.

The big picture

The U.S. Commerce Department's decision to impose substantial antidumping duties on plywood imports from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam marks a significant escalation in trade protectionism for the domestic manufacturing sector. This move follows earlier countervailing duties and reflects growing U.S. efforts to counter perceived unfair trade practices in key construction materials. The combined duties could reshape supply chains and pricing dynamics in the North American plywood market, with potential ripple effects across the broader construction industry.

What we're watching

Regulatory Escalation
Whether the U.S. will extend similar measures to other imported building materials from these countries.
Market Disruption
How domestic plywood producers will capitalize on the higher import costs to gain market share.
Trade Retaliation
The likelihood of China, Indonesia, or Vietnam retaliating with their own trade measures against U.S. exports.