DOC Announces Preliminary Determinations in Antidumping Investigations on PET Resin
On October 21, 2004, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced its preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations on imports of bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (BG PET) resin from India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand. DOC preliminarily found that Indian, Indonesian and Thai producers/exporters have sold subject merchandise from in the U.S. market at less than fair value, with margins ranging from 21.23 to 52.54% for India, 0.74 to 27.61% for Indonesia, and 26.03 to 41.28% for Thailand. DOC preliminarily found that Taiwanese producers/exporters have not sold subject merchandise in the U.S. market at less than fair value, as the preliminary margin for the sole respondent is de minimis.
The final determination in the investigation on Indonesian imports is scheduled to be announced in January 2005 and the final determinations the investigations on imports from India, Taiwan and Thailand will be announced in March 2005.
The merchandise covered by each of these investigations is BG PET resin. BG PET resin is commonly used to manufacture bottles, sheet, and strapping, whose applications include packaging for consumer goods such as soft drinks, water, juice, fresh fruit, as well as cosmetics and household cleaners. The merchandise subject to these investigations is classified under subheading 3907.60.0010 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). However, merchandise classified under HTSUS subheading 3907.60.0050 that otherwise meets the written description of the scope is also subject to these investigations.
The petition requesting these investigations was filed on March 24, 2004, by the United States PET Resin Producers Coalition, an ad hoc association of domestic producers of BG PET resin.
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