PET Sheet: New AD Duty Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The Commerce Department issued a notice in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on polyethylene terephthalate sheet from South Korea (A-580-903), Mexico (A-201-852) and Oman (A-523-813).

The International Trade Commission will conduct concurrent investigations to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized strontium chromate are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due Sept. 13, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, currently due in January, it will set AD duty cash deposit requirements for imports of merchandise subject to the investigation. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will issue AD duty orders making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD duties on importers and potentially change AD duty cash deposit rates.

Respondent Selection

Commerce said it will pick respondents for its AD duty investigations based on CBP import data.

Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations

The merchandise covered by these investigations is raw, pretreated, or primed polyethylene terephthalate sheet, whether extruded or coextruded, in nominal thicknesses of equal to or greater than 7 mil (0.007 inches or 177.8 µm) and not exceeding 45 mil (0.045 inches or 1143 µm) (PET sheet). The scope includes all PET sheet whether made from prime (virgin) inputs or recycled inputs, as well as any blends thereof. The scope includes all PET sheet meeting the above specifications regardless of width, color, surface treatment, coating, lamination, or other surface finish.

The merchandise subject to these investigations is properly classified under statistical reporting number 3920.62.0090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS statistical reporting number is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Comments on Scope Due Sept. 9

Participants in the AD/CV duty investigations may submit comments on product coverage under the scope of the investigations. Comments on the scope are due by Sept. 9.

Investigations Timetable

*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.

†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.

‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.

+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.

The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).

(Federal Register 08/27/19)