Wiley Persuades Federal Circuit to Uphold Duties on Diamond Sawblades from China

January 12, 2022

Washington, DC – Wiley, a preeminent Washington, DC law firm, secured an important victory for U.S. producers of diamond sawblades, persuading the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to uphold duties on dumped imports of diamond sawblades from China.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s 41.025% antidumping duty calculation was supported by “substantial evidence,” a three-judge Federal Circuit panel said in a unanimous January 10 ruling, which affirmed a U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) decision against a group of Chinese sawblade exporters. The Federal Circuit and the CIT agreed with Commerce that the duties are reasonable in light of an upward trend in antidumping duty rates over time.

“We are very pleased with the Federal Circuit panel’s ruling,” said Stephanie M. Bell, a partner in Wiley’s International Trade Practice and counsel to the Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers’ Coalition (DSMC) – an ad-hoc coalition of U.S. producers that petitioned for relief from the unfair imports.

“This decision confirms that Chinese exporters continue to dump at significant levels and highlights the crucial role of the dumping order to ensuring that domestic producers can compete on a level playing field,” said Bell, who argued before the Federal Circuit panel on behalf of the DSMC. The Wiley team representing the DSMC also includes International Trade partners Daniel B. Pickard and Maureen E. Thorson.

The Federal Circuit decision is the latest in a series of trade victories Wiley has obtained on behalf of the DSMC. Previous wins include a favorable March 2021 ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission, which voted to extend antidumping duties on diamond sawblades from China.