M&B Metal Products Company, Inc vs. China
Steel Wire Garment Hangers • 25-Year Battle for Survival
The Battle
25 Years of Fighting Trade Crime
Industry Destruction
An entire American industry was systematically destroyed by Chinese trade fraud. M&B Hangers is the last survivor of what was once a thriving domestic steel wire garment hanger industry.
WSJ The Journal
🎧 "China, an Alabama Business, and a 20-Year Battle"
🎧 Listen to Full Story2000-2005: The Assault Begins
Industry Under Attack
Chinese hangers entered the U.S. market at prices below American companies' raw material costs—a clear sign of unfair trade practices.
Three U.S. producers filed Section 421 trade action. Despite unanimous ITC recommendation for tariffs, President Bush denied relief.
The world’s largest garment hanger producer, a US Company, employing US workers and buying US raw materials, declared bankruptcy and closed.
2006-2010: Fighting Back
Last Stand
M&B forced to close South Hill, Virginia factory due to flood of unfairly traded Chinese imports.
As the only survivor, M&B Metal Products Company, Inc decided to stay and fight. Filed antidumping case, spending seven figures in legal fees.
ITC unanimously ruled U.S. industry was injured. Commerce imposed AD duties up to 187.25% on Chinese producers.
Chinese hangers immediately started arriving from Vietnam and Taiwan. M&B Metal Products Company, Inc investigated—found no production in Taiwan, only assembly in Vietnam.
2011-2015: Whack-a-Mole
New Countries, Same Fraud
Filed AD case against Taiwan and AD/CVD case against Vietnam. ITC again ruled unanimously for M&B.
Filed 35+ e-Allegations with CBP as hangers appeared from multiple countries. Received zero responses and no apparent action.
Formed Coalition for Enforcement of AD/CVD Orders with other affected companies. Lobbied Congress and Administration.
2016-2020: EAPA Era
New Tools, Same Problems
President Obama signed the Enforce and Protect Act, giving CBP new tools to combat evasion.
M&B Metal Products Company, Inc filed the first successful EAPA allegation, proving hangers from Thailand were actually Chinese.
Filed 25 EAPA allegations condensed into 5 investigations. CBP found evasion in all 5 cases, but relief was limited and temporary.
President Trump placed Section 301 tariffs on virtually everything from China, including garment hangers.
2021-2025: The Fight Continues
Still Standing, Still Fighting
When Asian hangers were difficult to get, M&B Metal Products Company, Inc was busy—buying equipment and hiring people.
As cheap Asian hangers re-entered, M&B Metal Products Company, Inc's market share dropped due to unfair price discrepancy.
Filed circumvention case against Cambodia. Commerce initiated investigation in 2025.
President Trump placed Section 232 tariffs on steel and derivative products like hangers, later raising them from 25% to 50%.
The Harsh Reality
"We have continued to see failed enforcement of our AD and CVD orders, as well as very little and only temporary relief from our EAPA cases."
"Our trade laws are being laughed at by the people who are defrauding our government out of lawfully owed duties and hurting American Industry, Workers, and Consumers at the same time."
"It is time we began Enforcing our Trade Laws and bringing the people that continually break the law to justice."
25 Years. Countless Legal Victories. Still Fighting for Survival.
M&B Metal Products Company, Inc proves that even perfect legal victories mean nothing without enforcement.
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