Commerce finalizes duties on polyester fiber imports from China, India

The U.S. Commerce Department has finalized countervailing duty rates that it will assess on imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China and India.    The U.S. Commerce Department has finalized countervailing duty rates that it will assess on imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China and India.
   The department’s investigations found that exporters from China and India received countervailable subsidies of 41.73 to 47.55 percent and 9.5 to 25.28 percent, respectively. These subsidies are given to companies by foreign governments based on their export performance and use of domestic materials over imports.
   Specifically, in its China investigation, Commerce calculated subsidy rates of 38 percent for Jiangyin Hailun Chemical Fiber Co. Ltd. and 47.57 percent for Jiangyin Huahong Chemical Fiber Co. Ltd. All other Chinese producers and exporters of this product received a subsidy rate of 42.79 percent.
   In its India investigation, Commerce calculated subsidy rates of 13.38 percent for Bombay Dyeing & Mfg. Co. Ltd. and 27.36 percent for Reliance Industries Ltd. All other Indian producers and exporters of this product received a subsidy rate of 24.8 percent.
   Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China and India based on these final rates.
   According to the department, imports of this product from China and India in 2016 were valued at $79.4 million and $14.8 million, respectively. Fine denier polyester staple fiber is used in myriad products, such as furniture and bedding.
   The petitioners for these countervailing duty investigations were DAK Americas and Auriga Polymers, both of North Carolina; and Nan Ya Plastics Corp. America in South Carolina.
   Currently, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is conducting related investigations to determine whether or not domestic industry is harmed by imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China and India. The ITC is scheduled to make its final injury determinations by March 2.
   If the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue countervailing duty orders. If the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will end and no orders will be issued.