WFCA Leads Lifting of Tariff on Imported Bamboo

Anaheim, CA, April 11, 2008 –The World Floor Covering Association has led the way to a repeal of a costly tariff on imported horizontal bamboo flooring. Steps are also underway to reinstate duty-free treatment on vertical bamboo flooring.

The WFCA’s Washington, DC–based legislative counsel, Steptoe & Johnson, had been monitoring the situation regarding changes in the U.S. tariff for bamboo flooring products since February 2007 when duties were imposed on all imported bamboo.

“This is exactly the type of aggressive representation the flooring industry can expect from the WFCA,” said association CEO Chris Davis.

“This time the issue was bamboo, but it could easily have been some other flooring material. The tariff was inappropriately applied and it impacted all the way through the distribution chain down to the consumer. Fortunately, the WFCA has the financial resources, mandate and talent to take on these types of issues."

Davis commended several importers of bamboo who helped by providing input and technical assistance to the WFCA’s legal team, including executives of Teragren, U.S. Floors and Wellmade.

The change became official April 2 via a published Presidential proclamation that included a revision to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. The proclamation specifies duty-free treatment and new tariff classification numbers for imported bamboo flooring products.

Once these changes become fully effective, companies once again will be able to import new shipments of bamboo flooring products without paying duties at the US border.

To facilitate the process for members, WFCA attorneys have suggested that bamboo manufacturers may want to temporarily suspend imports until their customs brokers advise that the U.S. Customs computer system has been updated.

Once the tariff revisions are fully implemented, affected companies will be able to obtain a refund – called a Customs Protest - of the duties on past shipments made since February 3, 2007.

Any importers of bamboo flooring that have questions may contact Greg McCue at Steptoe & Johnson at 202-429-6421.