Petition Filed for New AD Duties on South Korean 4th Tier Cigarettes
A coalition of domestic manufacturers filed a petition on Dec. 17 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on fourth tier cigarettes from South Korea. Commerce will now decide whether to begin an AD duty investigation. The investigation was requested by Coalition Against Korean Cigarettes.
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Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain tobacco cigarettes, commonly referred to as “4th tier cigarettes.” The subject cigarettes are composed of tobacco rolled in paper, have a nominal minimum total length of 7.0 cm but do not exceed 12.0 cm in total nominal length, and have a nominal diameter of less than 1.3 cm. These sizes of cigarettes are frequently referred to as “Kings” and “100's,” but subject merchandise that meets the physical description of the scope is included regardless of the marketing description of the size of the cigarettes. Subject merchandise typically has a tobacco blend that consists of 10% to 40% tobacco stems.
Subject merchandise is typically sold in packs of 20 cigarettes per pack which generally includes the marking “20 Class A Cigarettes” but are included regardless of packaging. 4th Tier cigarette packages typically sold in boxes without a rounded internal comer and without embossed aluminum foil inside the pack.
Both menthol and non-menthol cigarettes and cigarettes with or without a filter attached are covered by the scope of this investigation.
Excluded from the scope of this investigation are cigarettes that legally bear the valid and enforceable brand and/or trademark of a company who is a participating member of the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) of November 1998.
Merchandise covered by this investigation is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) under subheading 2402.20.8000. This HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of the 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 an antidumping duty investigation. Comments are due Jan. 6.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.