February 9, 2018
News Release 18-019
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigations Concerning Plastic Decorative Ribbon from China

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 plastic decorative ribbon from China that are allegedly subsidized and 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 with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about March 22, 2018, and its antidumping duty determinations due on or about June 5, 2018.

The Commission’s public report Plastic Decorative Ribbon from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4763, February 2018) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after March 13, 2018; 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

Plastic Decorative Ribbon from China
Investigation Nos: 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  Plastic decorative ribbon consists of long strips of material primarily used in gift wrap. The subject merchandise has a width of less than or equal to 4 inches (measured at the narrowest span of the ribbon), and include ribbon wound onto itself; a spool, a core or a tube (with or without flanges); attached to a card or strip; wound into a keg- or egg-shaped configuration; made into bows, bow-like items, or other shapes or configurations.  The subject merchandise is typically made of polypropylene. The ribbons may be of any color or combination of colors (including ribbons that are transparent, translucent or opaque) and may or may not bear words or images, including those of a holiday motif. Included are ribbons with embellishments and/or treatments, including ribbons that are printed, hot-stamped, coated, laminated, flocked, crimped, die-cut, embossed (or that otherwise have impressed designs, images, words or patterns), and ribbons with holographic, glitter, metallic, or iridescent finishes.     

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioners:  Berwick, Berwick, Pennsylvania.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
4.   USITC Conference Date:  Wednesday, January 17, 2018.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Friday, February 09, 2018.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Monday, February 12, 2018.

U.S. Industry in 2016:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  2
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Missouri.
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:  China.

 

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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