Granular PTFE Resin: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on granular polytetrafluoroethylene resin from India and Russia (A-533-899/C-533-900, A-821-829/C-821-830).
The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized granular polytetrafluoroethylene resin are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due March 15, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, due in April for CV duties and July for AD duties, it will set AD and/or CV 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 an AD and/or CV duty order making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CV duties on importers and potentially change AD/CV duty cash deposit rates.
AD/CVD Respondent Selection
Commerce will base respondent selection in the AD/CV duty investigations on India on CBP import data. For its AD/CV duty investigations on Russia, Commerce will examine the only known exporter, HaloPolymer OJSC.
Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations
The product covered by these investigations is granular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin. Granular PTFE resin is covered by the scope of these investigations whether filled or unfilled, whether or not modified, and whether or not containing co-polymer, additives, pigments, or other materials. Also included is PTFE wet raw polymer. The chemical formula for granular PTFE resin is C2F4, and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry number is 9002-84-0.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in a third country, including by filling, modifying, compounding, packaging with another product, or performing any other finishing, packaging, or processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the granular PTFE resin.
The product covered by these investigations does not include dispersion or coagulated dispersion (also known as fine powder) PTFE.
PTFE further processed into micropowder, having particle size typically ranging from 1 to 25 microns, and a melt-flow rate no less than 0.1 gram/10 minutes, is excluded from the scope of these investigations.
Granular PTFE resin is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 3904.61.0010. Subject merchandise may also be classified under HTSUS subheading 3904.69.5000. Although the HTSUS subheadings and CAS Number are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Comments on the scope of these investigations are due March 8.
Investigations Timetable
| Event | AD Duty | CV Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Petitions filed | 01/27/21 | 01/27/21 |
| DOC initiation date | 02/16/21 | 01/16/21 |
| ITC prelim determinations | 03/15/21 | 03/15/21 |
| DOC prelim determinations | 07/06/21 | 04/22/21 |
| DOC final determinations | 09/20/21 | 07/06/21 |
| ITC final determinations | 11/04/21 | 08/20/21 |
| Issuance of orders | 11/12/21 | 08/27/21 |
These deadlines may be, and usually are, extended. The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here). See 2102010032 for a summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.