Armstrong Gets Refund of Laminate Duties

Lancaster, PA, Nov. 9, 2010 -- Armstrong World Industries won $9.5 million in refunds from the federal government after showing that it was overcharged on laminate-flooring duties, according to a story in Lancaster Online.

However, in a separate case, the federal government is being asked to make Armstrong pay duties on Chinese hardwood flooring it imports.

Should Armstrong lose and be found to owe duties, the amount could be big enough to affect its stock price, Armstrong said.

The issues were outline in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to the story, Armstrong began in 2002 to fight the 6% duty charged on its laminate flooring imports, arguing that its product was incorrectly classified, eventually getting the amount reduced to 3.2% and winning a refund.

In the other issue, a coalition of engineered hardwood manufacturers has petitioned the federal government to slap duties of up to 242% on Chinese imports. Armstrong has a plant in China and makes products for the U.S. market.