U.S. acts on China polyester “dumping”

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 12/19/2006 12:04:00 PM

Washington – In response to a June 2006 petition by American polyester fiber producers DAK Americas, Charlotte, N.C.; Nan Ya Plastics Corp. America, Lake City, S.C.; and Wellman, Inc., Shrewsbury, N.J.; the U.S. Department of Commerce has decided to impose "antidumping" duties on imports of certain polyester staple fiber from China. The fiber is typically used as stuffing.

The government calculated preliminary antidumping margins ranging from 44.30% to 4.39% of the value of Chinese imports. Three Chinese producers were singled out in the preliminary determination: Cixi Jiangnan Chemical Fibers Company (15.30%), Far Eastern Industries Shanghai (10.45%), and Ningbo Dafa Chemical Fibers Company (4.39%).

Following yesterday’s decision, U.S. Customs and Border Protection must now require importers to post a bond or cash deposit in the amount of the duties, pending the final determination in the investigation and announcement of final duty amounts, which is expected in May 2007.

"Today's announcement by the Commerce Department signals a return of fair pricing and competition in the marketplace," said Paul Rosenthal, lead counsel for the petitioners and managing partner of Kelley Drye Collier Shannon. He said that final antidumping duty margins were expected to be even higher.