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Antidumping Investigations

December 8, 2022

News Release 22-136

Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1575 and 731-TA-1577

Contact: Elizabeth Nesbitt , 202-205-1819

Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Czechia and Russia Does Not Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Czechia and Russia that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the negative. Commissioner Randolph J. Stayin did not participate.

As a result of the Commission’s negative determinations, no antidumping duties will be imposed on imports from Czechia and Russia.

The Commission’s public report Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Czechia and Russia (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1575 and 731-TA-1577 (Final), USITC Publication 5392, December 2022) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available by January 24, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436
 
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (ESBR) from Czechia and Russia
Investigation Nos: 731-TA-1575 and 731-TA-1577 (Final)
 
Product Description:  Emulsion styrene-butadiene ("ESBR") elastomers are large volume synthetic rubber copolymer derivatives of the petrochemical feedstocks styrene and butadiene produced by cold emulsion polymerization at 41-55 degrees Fahrenheit and typically compressed into salable rectangular bales of 80 pounds. ESBR can also be sold in granules, crumbs, pellets, powders, plates, sheets, and strip. Scope products resulting from the production process consist of the 1500 and 1700 series grades of ESBR synthetic rubber elastomers defined by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (“IISRP”). The 1500 series products are light-colored solid grades of ESBR popularly sold for tire and other applications, while the 1700 series products are darker in color and contain petroleum extender oil designed for ease of processing in tire component compounding and other applications. Some 70 percent or more of ESBR is used in tire tread compound formulations designed for new passenger vehicle and light truck replacement tires and heavier truck tire retreads, where its superior durability and extended tire wear characteristics excel. ESBR is also employed in a large variety of other applications including conveyor belting, hoses, gaskets, wire and cable, mats, flooring, and footwear. Scope exclusions include IISRP carbon black master batch 1600 and 1800 series, high styrene resin master batch 1900 series, and latex intermediate products.
 
Status of Proceedings:
  1. Type of investigation:  Final antidumping duty investigations.
  2. Petitioner:  Lion Elastomers LLC, Port Neches, Texas.
  3. USITC Institution Date:  Monday, November 15, 2021.
  4. USITC Hearing Date:  Tuesday, November 08, 2022.
  5. USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, December 08, 2022.
  6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Tuesday, December 27, 2022.
U.S. Industry in 2021:
  1. Number of U.S. producers:  2.
  2. Location of producers’ plants:  Texas.
  3. Production and related workers:   1
  4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
  5. Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
  6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1
U.S. Imports in 2021:
  1. Subject imports:  $41.7 million.
  2. Nonsubject imports:  $29.6 million.
  3. Leading import sources:  Mexico, Russia, Czechia, Germany, and Taiwan (by volume).
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1 Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.
 
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December 5, 2022

News Release 22-134

Inv. No(s). 731-TA-540-541

Contact: Elizabeth Nesbitt , 202-205-1819

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Certain Welded Stainless Steel Pipe from South Korea and Taiwan

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of certain welded stainless steel pipe from South Korea and Taiwan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from South Korea and Taiwan will remain in place. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. 

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Certain Welded Stainless Steel Pipe from South Korea and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-540-541 (Fifth Review), USITC Publication 5395, December 2022) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by January 10, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Certain Welded Stainless Steel Pipe from South Korea and Taiwan (Fifth Review) (Expedited) were instituted on May 2, 2022.

On August 5, 2022, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group responses were adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate. Chairman Johanson voted for full reviews. Commissioners Schmidtlein, Kearns, Stayin, and Karpel voted for expedited reviews.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

 

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May 9, 2022

News Release 22-057

Inv. No(s). 731-TA-457-A-D (Fifth Review)

Contact: Jennifer Andberg , 202-205-1819

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Heavy Forged Hand Tools from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of heavy forged hand tools from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of the following classes or kinds of heavy forged hand tools from China: (1) axes and adzes, (2) bars and wedges, (3) hammers and sledges, and (4) picks and mattocks will remain in place. 

Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. 

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Heavy Forged Hand Tools from China (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-457-A-D (Fifth Review), USITC Publication 5326, May 2022) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by June 10, 2022; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review.  If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) review concerning Heavy Forged Hand Tools from China was instituted on December 1, 2021.

On March 7, 2022, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. Commissioners Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate. Commissioners Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted for an expedited review. Commissioner David S. Johanson voted to conduct a full review.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

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