WASHINGTON — In December, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission will begin a review process to determine whether to continue imposing duties on Chinese made wood bedroom furniture.

Known as a sunset review, this process takes place on the five-year anniversary of the imposition of final duties for initial cash deposit rates in an antidumping case. The final duties in the wood bedroom case were announced in late December 2004.

Those wishing to be considered interested parties to the proceeding must contact the DOC within 10 days of the December public notice of the initiation of the review. However, comments from those wishing to participate in the review will be allowed for up to 30 days following the initiation of the review.

The DOC didn't give a specific date when the public notice will be filed. When it is filed, Furniture/Today will report it.

The case stems from a 2003 and 2004 investigation into the sale of Chinese-made bedroom furniture in the United States at less than normal market values. About two dozen U.S. producers sought the investigation in response to concerns that unfairly priced wood bedrooms were causing injury to the domestic industry.

The investigation determined that the products were unfairly priced, which led to the imposition of duties on wood bedroom furniture shipments from China.

For more information on the sunset review, contact Jennifer Moats at the DOC at (202) 482-5047.