U.S. finding of dumping by Asian producers of plastic shopping bags

U.S. finding of dumping by Asian producers of plastic shopping bags    The U.S. Commerce Department has ruled that plastic shopping bags from China, Thailand and Malaysia were dumped on the U.S. market.
   Commerce said the dumping margins ranged up to 77.33 percent for China, 101.74 percent for Malaysia, and 122.88 percent for Thailand.
   Dumping is the import of goods at a price below the domestic market or a third-country price, or below the cost of production. A dumping margin represents by how much the fair-value price exceeds the dumped price.
   To impose antidumping duties will require a final affirmative determination from both the Commerce Department that dumping occurred, and from the U.S. International Trade Commission that imports threaten or harm American producers. The ITC is expected to make its final determination in July.
   “Until then U.S. Customs agents will collect a cash deposit or bond equal to the dumping margin on any such imports; it would return the money in the event of a negative determination,” Commerce said in a June 14 statement.
   According to Commerce, U.S. imports of plastic shopping bags in 2003 amounted to $183.8 million from China, $6.9 million from Malaysia, and $43.3 million from Thailand.