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News Release 20-083
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-649 and 731-TA-1523
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 twist ties from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.
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.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of this product from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about September 21, 2020, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about December 3, 2020.
The Commission’s public report Twist Ties from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-649 and 731-TA-1523 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5104, August 2020) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available after September 8, 2020; 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
Twist Ties from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-649 and 731‐TA‐1523 (Preliminary)
Product Description: The merchandise covered by this investigation consists of twist ties, which are thin, bendable ties for closing containers, such as bags, bundle items, or identifying objects. The product in most circumstances is comprised of one or more metal wires encased in a covering material, which allows the tie to retain its shape and bind against itself. It is possible to make a twist tie with plastic and no metal wires. The metal wire that is generally used in a twist tie is stainless or galvanized steel and typically measures between the gauges of 19 (0.0410” diameter) and 31 (0.0132”) (American Standard Wire Gauge). The product usually has a width between 0.075” and 1” in the cross-machine direction (width of the tie – measurement perpendicular with the wire); a thickness between 0.015” and 0.045” over the wire; and a thickness between 0.002” and 0.020” in areas without wire. Included are all-plastic twist ties containing a plastic core as well as a plastic covering (the wing) over the core, like paper and/or plastic in a metal tie. An all-plastic twist tie (without metal wire) has the same measurements as a twist tie containing one or more metal wires. Twist ties are commonly available individually in pre-cut lengths (“singles”), wound in large spools to be cut later by machine or hand, or in perforated sheets of spooled or single twist ties that are later slit by machine or by hand (“gangs”). The covering material of a twist tie may be paper (metallic or plain) or plastic and can be dyed in a variety of colors with or without printing. The product may have the same covering material on both sides or one side of paper and one side of plastic. When comprised of two sides of paper, the paper material is bound together with an adhesive or plastic. A twist tie may also have a tag or label attached to it or a pre-applied adhesive attached.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Preliminary phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2. Petitioner: Bedford Industries Inc., Worthington, MN.
3. USITC Institution Date: Friday, June 26, 2020.
4. USITC Conference Date: Friday, July 17, 2020.
5. USITC Vote Date: Friday, August 7, 2020.
6. USITC Views to Commerce: Monday, August 17, 2020.
U.S. Industry in 2019:
1. Number of U.S. producers: 2.
2. Location of producers’ plants: Arizona and Minnesota.
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 2019:
1. Subject imports: 1
2. Nonsubject imports: 1
3. Leading import sources: China.
[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.