U.S. Polyester Producers Applaud U.S. International Trade Commission's Affirmative Preliminary Determination on Imports of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from China, India, Korea, and Taiwan

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) made a unanimous preliminary determination today that unfairly-traded imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber (fine denier PSF) from China, India, Korea, and Taiwan are causing injury to U.S. producers. The preliminary injury determination means that the antidumping duty cases against imports from China, India, Korea, and Taiwan, along with the countervailing duty cases against China and India, will proceed.

Three major U.S. polyester fiber producers – DAK Americas LLC (DAK), Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America (Nan Ya), and Auriga Polymers Inc. (Auriga) – filed petitions with the ITC and the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) on May 31, 2017 alleging that dumped imports of fine denier PSF from all four countries, and subsidized imports of fine denier PSF from China and India, are causing material injury to the domestic industry. 

Imports of fine denier PSF from the four subject countries increased by nearly 68 percent between 2014 and 2016.  The import surge was driven by low import prices that undersold the domestic industry, causing U.S. producers to lose significant sales and profits. 

"We are pleased with the results of the ITC's preliminary finding.  This affirmative decision is a critical first step in providing relief to the domestic industry harmed by the flood of unfairly-traded imports of fine denier PSF from China, India, Korea, and Taiwan," said Paul Rosenthal, of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, counsel to the petitioners.

The product covered by the petition is fine denier polyester staple fiber, which is a synthetic staple fiber of polyesters measuring less than 3.3 decitex (3 denier) in diameter.  Fine denier PSF is generally cut in lengths of less than five inches (127 mm).  Fine denier PSF is similar in appearance to cotton or wool.  It is typically converted either to yarn for weaving or knitting into fabric or to a non-woven textile prior to the end-use application.  Woven applications include the production of textiles such as clothing and bedding linens, for example.  Non-woven applications include the production of household and hygiene products such as cleaning wipes, baby wipes, and diapers.     

The petitioning companies are DAK Americas LLC, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, and Auriga Polymers Inc., represented by Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.

SOURCE Kelley Drye & Warren LLP