Antidumping duties ironed out for polyester fiber

The Commerce Department has finalized its determinations for fine denier polyester staple fiber imports from China, India, South Korea and Taiwan.

   The Commerce Department has finalized its antidumping duty determinations for fine denier polyester staple fiber imports from China, India, South Korea and Taiwan.
   Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells its products in the United States at less than fair value.
   In its China investigation, Commerce calculated a dumping rate of 72.22 percent for Jiangyin Hailun Chemical Fiber Co. Ltd. and 65.17 percent for Jiangyin Huahong Chemical Fiber Co. Ltd. The China-wide entity received a dumping rate of 103.06.
   From the India investigation, Commerce assigned a dumping rate of 21.43 percent to Reliance Industries Ltd. and Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. It also assigned a dumping rate of 21.43 percent to all other producers and exporters of fine denier polyester staple fiber from India.
   In its South Korea investigation, the department calculated a dumping rate of 0 percent for Toray Chemical Korea Inc., but assigned a dumping rate of 45.23 percent to Down Nara Co. Ltd. and Huvis Corp. Commerce set a dumping rate of 30.15 percent for all other producers and exporters of this fiber from South Korea.
   For its Taiwan investigation, Commerce calculated a dumping rate of 0 percent for Tainan Spinning Co. Ltd., but assigned a dumping rate of 48.86 percent to Far Eastern Textile Ltd. The department set a dumping rate of 24.43 percent for all other producers and exporters of the fiber from Taiwan.
   Commerce has now instructed Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of fine denier polyester staple fiber from the four countries based on these final rates. 
    In 2017, imports of this fiber from China, India, South Korea and Taiwan were valued at $61.4 million, $23.7 million, $11.9 million and $7.4 million, respectively.  
    The antidumping duty investigation petition was filed by Nan Ya Plastics Corp. America in South Carolina and DAK Americas and Auriga Polymers, both of North Carolina.
   Meanwhile, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is conducting investigations to determine whether the domestic industry is harmed by imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China, India, South Korea and Taiwan. The ITC is scheduled to make its final injury determinations by July 9.
    If the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping orders. If the commission, however, makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will end and no orders will be issued.