PET Resin From Four Countries: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on polyethylene terephthalate resin from China, India and Oman (A-570-024/C-570-025), A-533-861/C-533-862), A-523-810/C-523/811)), and antidumping duty investigation on PET resin from Canada (A-122-855)
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The AD period of investigation for China is July 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014. The AD period of investigation all other investigated countries is Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014. The CVD period of investigation for all countries is Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014.
AD/CVD Respondent Selection
For its China AD duty investigation, Commerce will send quantity and value questionnaires to each potential respondent, and will base respondent selection on the responses it receives. Chinese exporters that don't get a quantity and value questionnaire can still submit one. Commerce said it will post a copy of the quantity and value questionnaire on its website (here). Questionnaire responses are due April 13.
For the India AD duty investigation, Commerce said it will pick respondents based on the petitions for the investigations and CBP data. Comments on respondent selection in the AD duty investigations on PET resin from India are due April 13.
For the Canada and Oman AD duty investigations, Commerce said the petitions only identified one exporter each of subject merchandise. Commerce will investigate those two companies.
Commerce said it will rely on CBP data to pick the respondents for the India and China CVD investigations. For the Oman CVD investigation, Commerce said it will investigate the only exporter identified in the petition, Octal Petrochemicals, LLC FZC. Comments on CVD respondent selection are due by April 13.
Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations
"The merchandise covered by these investigations is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.70, but not more than 0.88, deciliters per gram. The scope includes blends of virgin PET resin and recycled PET resin containing predominantly virgin PET resin content, provided such blends meet the intrinsic viscosity requirements above. The scope includes all PET resin meeting the above specifications regardless of additives introduced in the manufacturing process.
"Although the merchandise covered by these investigations is not defined by its end use, it is typically used in the production of plastic bottles, in packaging for beverage, food, and manufactured products, in containers for household and automotive products, and in industrial strapping, among other applications.
"The merchandise subject to these investigations is properly classified under subheading 3907.60.00.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under investigation is dispositive."
Comments on Scope Due April 20
Participants in the AD/CVD investigations may submit comments on product coverage under the scope of the investigations. Comments on the scope are due by April 20.
Investigations Timetable
| Event | AD Duty | CV Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Petitions filed | 03/10/15 | 03/10/15 |
| DOC initiation date | 03/30/15 | 03/30/15 |
| ITC prelim determinations* | 04/24/15 | 04/24/15 |
| DOC prelim determinations† | 08/17/15 | 06/03/15 |
| DOC final determinations† | 11/02/15 | 08/17/15 |
| ITC final determinations‡ | 12/15/15 | 10/01/15 |
| Issuance of orders+ | 12/22/15 | 10/08/15 |
*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.
†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.
‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.
+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.
(See 1503130026 for summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.)
The AD duty initiation notice is (here).
The CV duty initiation notice is (here).
The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).