Rubber band imports snapped by duties

Commerce determined rubber bands from China and Thailand are being dumped on the U.S. market at less than fair value.

   The Commerce Department has determined that rubber band imports from China and Thailand are being dumped on the U.S. market at less than fair value. 
   In its China investigation, the department assigned a preliminary country-wide dumping rate of 27.27 to all Chinese producers and exporters of rubber bands, stating that none demonstrated eligibility for a separate rate.
   Commerce in its Thailand investigation assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 5.86 percent to U. Yong Industry Co. Ltd., but a 0 percent dumping rate to Liang Hah Heng International Rubber Co. Ltd. All other Thai rubber band producers and exporters received a preliminary dumping rate of 5.86 percent.
   As a result of these decisions, Commerce will now instruct Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of rubber bands from China and Thailand based on the preliminary rates. 
   According to Commerce, U.S. imports of rubber bands from China and Thailand in 2017 were valued at $4.9 million and $12.1 million, respectively.  
   The petitioner for the antidumping investigation is Alliance Rubber Co. of Arkansas.  
   Commerce is expected to announce its final determinations for China and Thailand rubber band imports antidumping investigation by Nov. 14 and Jan. 21, respectively. 
   If Commerce makes an affirmative final determination, the International Trade Commission will then be scheduled to make its final injury determinations for China and Thailand by Dec. 28 and March 4, respectively. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping and the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders. However, if Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping, or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will end and no orders will be issued.