Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Twist Ties From China
A U.S. manufacturer seeks the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on twist ties from China, it said in a petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission March 26. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers.
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Bedford Industries filed the petition. The requested AD/CV duties would generally cover the importation of twist ties alone, but not twist ties that are imported within packaging for an item such as a cable television or a box of garbage bags, the petition said.
Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
The merchandise covered by these investigations consists of twist ties, which are thin, bendable ties for closing containers, such as bags, bundle items, or identifying objects. A twist tie 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. The metal wire in a twist tie is typically stainless or galvanized steel and typically measures between the gauges of 19 (.0410” diameter) and 31 (.0132”) (American Standard Wire Gauge). A twist tie usually has a width between .075” and 1” in the cross-machine direction (width of the tie -- measurement perpendicular with the wire); a thickness between .015” and .045” over the wire or other metal; and a thickness between .002” and .020” in areas without wire or other metal. 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), plastic, or polyethylene, and can be dyed in a variety of colors with or without printing. A twist tie 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 also may have a tag or label attached to it or a pre-applied adhesive attached to it.
The scope includes ties used for television cable, computer cords, other appliances and household ties, all of which are manufactured by Petitioner. Twist ties without metal wire also are covered in the scope. An all-plastic tie contains a plastic core as well as a plastic covering (the wing) over the core, just like paper and/or plastic in a metal tie. The scope does not include products with wire and plastic material (e.g., pipe cleaners used in craft activities, wire bristle brushes), or plastic “zip” ties.
Twist ties are imported into the United States under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) subheadings 8309.90.0000 and 5609.00.3000. Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 3906.90.2000, 3920.51.5000, 3923.90.0080, 3926.90.9990, 4811.59.6000, 4821.10.4000, 4821.90.2000 and 4823.90.8600. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for reference only. The written description of the scope of the investigations 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 on or about July 16.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.