Petition Filed for New AD Duties on Synthetic Rubber
Two domestic manufacturers, Lion Elastomers LLC and East West Copolymers, filed a petition on July 21 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (ESBR) from South Korea, Mexico and Poland. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD duty investigations on these products, which are mostly used to make new rubber tires, the petition said. ESBR is also used "in a variety of other products, including conveyor belts, shoe soles, some kinds of hoses, roller coverings and flooring."
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Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
"For purposes of this investigation, the product covered is emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR), regardless of form. ESBR consists of cold non-pigmented rubbers and cold oil extended non-pigmented rubbers that contain at least one percent of organic acids from the emulsion polymerization process. ESBR is produced and sold in accordance with a generally accepted set of product specifications issued by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP).
"The scope of the investigation covers grades of ESBR included in the IISRP 1500 and 1700 series of synthetic rubbers. The 1500 grades are light in color and are often described as 'Clear' or 'White Rubber.' The 1700 grades are oil-extended and thus darker in color, and are often called 'Brown Rubber.'
"Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are products which are manufactured by blending ESBR with other polymers, high styrene resin master batch, carbon black master batch (i.e., IISRP 1600 series and 1800 series) and latex (an intermediate product).
"The products subject to this investigation are currently classifiable under subheadings 4002.19.0015 and 4002.19.0019 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). ESBR is described by Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) Registry No. 9003-55-8. This CAS number also refers to other types of styrene butadiene rubber. Although the HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive."
Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support
The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Comments are due Aug. 10.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.