Trade Commission investigating imported mattresses from 13 countries

Imported mattress investigation overview: 

• Who: The U.S. International Trade Commission released a preliminary determination following an investigation into mattress imports originating from a total of 13 countries. 
• Why: The ITC determined there is a “reasonable indication” the mattress industry is being materially injured by mattress imports from Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Taiwan. 
• Where: Nationwide. 

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined that there is a “reasonable indication” that the U.S. mattress industry is being materially injured by mattresses imported from 13 countries.

The ITC said an investigation found domestic industry is being harmed by imported mattresses that are being sold at less than fair value (LTFV) and by mattress imports from Indonesia that are alleged to be subsidized by the Indonesian government. 

In addition to Indonesia, the ITC named Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Taiwan as the countries from where mattress imports are hurting the US industry. 

The ITC said it will now launch anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations, satisfying requests made by a pair of workers unions and mattress companies like Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Brooklyn Bedding, Serta Simmons Bedding, Leggett & Platt and Southerland, among others. 

Domestic companies petition Commission and Commerce over mattress imports

The ITC launched its investigation on July 28 in response to petitions filed with the Commission and Commerce by a total of 10 domestic companies and two workers’ unions, according to the preliminary determination. 

“(U.S. mattress companies) filed petitions with the Commission and Commerce, alleging that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of subsidized imports of mattresses from Indonesia and LTFV imports of mattresses,” the ITC said in a preliminary determination. 

In other mattress-related news, class action lawsuits were filed against Brooklyn Bedding and Emma Mattress last month over claims the mattress companies used inflated regular prices to make their on-sale products appear to be at a greater discount. 

The claims against Brooklyn Bedding focused on Leesa brand mattress and bedding products sold by the company, while the class action against Emma Mattress was related to the sale of Emma mattress and other on-sale sleep-related products.

What are your thoughts on the ITC determination on imported mattresses? Let us know in the comments.

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