The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from Canada, China, India, and Oman that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of China, India, and Oman.

Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent, Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the affirmative.  Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of this product from Canada, China, India, and Oman, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about June 3, 2015, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about August 17, 2015.

The Commission’s public report Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin from Canada, China, India, and Oman (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-531-533 and 731-TA-1270-1273 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4531, May 2015) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after May 21, 2015.  After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Canada, China, India, and Oman
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-531-533 and 731-TA-1270-1273 (Preliminary)

Product Description: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin is a large-volume, commodity-grade thermoplastic polyester polymer. PET resin is primarily sold in bulk form as chips or pellets to downstream end users/converters.  Converters use PET resin to manufacture bottles and other sterile containers that house liquid and solid products for human consumption or contact. Major end-use applications for bottle-grade PET resin include carbonated soft drink   bottles, water bottles, and other containers such as for juices, peanut butter, jams and jellies, salad dressings, cooking oils, household cleaners, and cosmetics. Articles manufactured with PET resin are clear, transparent, sterile, lightweight, and thermally stable. The product scope defines packaging-grade PET resin having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.70, but not more than 0.88, deciliters per gram.  Based upon the scope set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce, information available to the Commission indicates that the merchandise subject to these investigations is imported under statistical reporting number 3907.60.0030 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: DAK Americas, LLC, Charlotte, NC; M&G Chemicals, Houston, TX; and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, Lake City, SC.
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: March 10, 2015.
4. Commission’s conference: March 31, 2015.
5. USITC vote: April 23, 2015.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  April 24, 2015.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: May 1, 2015.

U.S. Industry:

1. Number of producers in 2014: Four.
2. Location of producers’ plants:  North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2014: ¹
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2014: ¹
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2014: ¹

U.S. Imports:

1. From the subject countries during 2014: ¹
2. From other countries during 2014: $409 million.
3. Leading sources during 2014: Mexico, Canada, China, and India.

¹ Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.