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.

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

1. Subject imports:  $41.7 million.
2. Nonsubject imports:  $29.6 million.
3. Leading import sources:  Mexico, Russia, Czechia, Germany, and Taiwan (by volume).

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 emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Czechia, Italy, and Russia that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chair Jason E. Kearns, Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.  Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin did not participate in these investigations.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Czechia, Italy, and Russia, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about April 25, 2022.

The Commission’s public report Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Czechia, Italy, and Russia (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1575-1577 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5274, January 2022) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after January 28, 2022; 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, Italy, and Russia
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1575-1577 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  Emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber ("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, but also sold in granules, crumbs, pellets, powders, plates, sheets, strip, etc. 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 contain petroleum extender oil, darker in color but more easily processed and typically used for specialty compounding in tire manufacture 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, other mechanical goods, 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:  Preliminary antidumping duty investigations.
2.          Petitioner:  Lion Elastomers LLC, Port Neches, Texas.
3.          USITC Effective Institution Date:  Monday, November 15, 2021.
4.          USITC Conference Date:  Monday, December 6, 2021.
5.          USITC Vote Date:  Wednesday, December 29, 2021.
6.          USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Thursday, December 30, 2021.

U.S. Industry in 2020:

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 2020:

1.          Subject imports:  ¹
2.          Nonsubject imports:  ¹
3.          Leading import sources:  Russia, Taiwan, and Mexico (by volume).

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Commissioner Irving A. Williamson voted in the affirmative.  Vice Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the negative. 

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland.

The Commission also made a negative finding concerning critical circumstances with regard to imports of this product from Korea.  As a result, goods sold at less than fair value that entered the United States from Korea prior to February 24, 2017 (date of Commerce’s affirmative preliminary determination), will not be subject to retroactive antidumping duties.

The Commission’s public report Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Final), USITC Publication 4717, August 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by September 13, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Final)

Product Description:  Emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (“ESBR”) is a solid form of synthetic rubber copolymer product of styrene and butadiene with a "normal" level of 23.5 percent styrene. ESBR is produced by a cold aqueous emulsion process at 41-55 degrees Fahrenheit, and finished either as a dry 1500 series, or a 1700 series of oil-modified product grade, each having a crumb-like texture commonly pressed into salable bales of up to about 80 pounds. The 1500 series is categorized by the IISRP trade association as a "neat" or pure form of ESBR, while the 1700 series contains petroleum-based extender oil (some 23 to 30 percent) as a homogenized component of the rubber particle. Some 70 percent of ESBR is typically consumed, e.g., in the downstream manufacture of replacement passenger car and light truck tires and truck tire retread compounds, while miscellaneous applications range from conveyor belts to flooring and shoe soles. The scope excludes the 1000 and 1900 series "hot-process" and "high-Styrene" forms of ESBR rubbers, the 1600 and 1800 "black masterbatches," and latex.   

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigation:  Final phase antidumping duty investigations.
2.  Petitioners:  Lion Elastomers, LLC ("Lion"), Port Neches, Texas, and East West Copolymer, LLC ("East West"), Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
3.  USITC Institution Date:  Thursday, July 21, 2016.
4.  USITC Hearing Date:  Thursday, June 29, 2017.
5.  USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, August 03, 2017.
6.  USITC Notification to Commerce:  Wednesday, August 23, 2017.

U.S. Industry in 2016:

1.  Number of U.S. producers:  3.
2.  Location of producers’ plants:  Louisiana and 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 2016:

1.  Subject imports:  ¹
2.  Nonsubject imports:  ¹
3.  Leading import sources:  Brazil, Mexico, Korea, and Germany (in terms of value).

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 emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping duty investigations on imports of this product from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about December 28, 2016.

The Commission’s public report Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland, Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4636, September 2016) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after October 4, 2016.  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
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland
Investigation Nos.731-TA-1334-1337 (Preliminary)

Product Description: Emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) is a solid form of synthetic rubber copolymer product of styrene and butadiene with a “normal” level of 23.5 percent styrene. ESBR is produced by a cold aqueous emulsion process at 41-55 degrees Fahrenheit, and finished either as a dry 1500 series, or a 1700 series of oil-modified product grade, each having a crumb-like texture commonly pressed into salable bales of up to about 80 pounds. The 1500 series is categorized by the IISRP trade association as a “neat” or pure form of ESBR, while the 1700 series contains petroleum-based extender oil (some 23 to 30 percent) as a homogenized component of the rubber particle. Some 70 percent of ESBR is typically consumed, e.g., in the downstream manufacture of replacement passenger car and light truck tires and truck tire retread compounds, while miscellaneous applications range from conveyor belts to flooring and shoe soles. The scope excludes the ESBR 1000 and 1900 series of synthetic rubbers and, the 1600  and 1800 series black masterbatches.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigations: Preliminary antidumping duty.
2. Petitioners: Lion Elastomers, LLC (“Lion”), Port Neches, Texas, and East West Copolymer, LLC (“East West”), Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: July 21, 2016.
4. Commission’s conference: August 11, 2016.
5. USITC vote: September 2, 2016.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: September 6, 2016.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: September 13, 2016.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2015:  Three.
2. Location of producers’ plants:  Louisiana and Texas.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2015: [1]
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2015: ¹
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2015: ¹

U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject countries during 2015: ¹
2. From other countries during 2015: ¹
3. Leading sources during 2015: Brazil, Korea, Mexico, Poland, and Germany (in terms of total value).