An official website of the United States government. 
News Release 17-117
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1378-1379 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
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 low melt polyester staple fiber from Korea and Taiwan that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent 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 Korea and Taiwan, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about December 4, 2017.
The Commission’s public report Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from Korea and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1378-1379 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4720, August 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available after September 8, 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
Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from Korea and Taiwan
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1378-1379 (Preliminary)
Product Description: Low melt polyester staple fiber (PSF) is a synthetic (manmade) staple fiber, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning, made entirely of polyester. It is similar in appearance to cotton or wool fiber when baled. It is most commonly comprised of a pure polyester core and a pure polyester outer sheath. The sheath, which melts at a lower temperature (approximate melt point of 90°C to 220°C) than the core (approximate melt point of 250°C), provides a stable structure that allows the fiber to be processed smoothly into another form and acts as an agent for thermal-bonding to the core polymer. Low melt PSF can be used in nonwoven products for a broad spectrum of downstream industries - automotive (door trim, dash pads, wheel guards, carpets, trunk and hood liners), industrial purposes (soundproofing and insulation for construction, water and air filtration (such as air-filtering face masks), and hygienic products (wipes, diapers, sanitary and medical goods, etc.).
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Preliminary phase antidumping duty investigations.
2. Petitioners: Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, Livingston, NJ.
3. USITC Institution Date: Tuesday, June 27, 2017.
4. USITC Conference Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
5. USITC Vote Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017.
6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date: Friday, August 11, 2017.
U.S. Industry in 2016:
1. Number of U.S. producers: 2.
2. Location of producers’ plants: South Carolina and Tennessee.
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: $114.2 million.
2. Nonsubject imports: $2.8 million.
3. Leading import sources: Korea, Taiwan, China.
[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.