On June 26, 2020, Bedford Industries, Inc. (“Petitioner”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on twist ties from the People’s Republic of China.
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
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 System 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.
PETITIONER
Bedford Industries, Inc.
1659 Rowe Ave
Worthington, Minnesota 56187
Telephone 1(507) 376-4136
Facsimile 1 (507) 376-8297
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
Roy Goldberg
STINSON LLP
1775 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 728-3005
NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS
For a list of foreign products/exporters alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment I.
NAMED IMPORTERS
For a list of importers alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment II.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
| Event | Earliest Date |
| Petition Filed | June 26, 2020 |
| DOC Initiation | July 16, 2020 |
| ITC Preliminary Investigation: | |
| Questionnaires Due | July 10, 2020 |
| Request to appear at hearing | July 15, 2020 |
| Hearing | July 17, 2020 |
| Briefs | July 22, 2020 |
| ITC Vote | August 10, 2020 |
| DOC Investigation Schedule: | |
| DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination | December 3, 2020 |
| DOC Preliminary Countervailing Determination | September 21, 2020 |
| DOC Final Antidumping Determination | February 16, 2021 |
| DOC Final Countervailing Determination | December 3, 2020 |
| ITC Final AD Determination | April 2, 2021 |
| ITC Final CVD Determination | January 18, 2021 |
ALLEGED DUMPING MARGINS
China: 67.92%
ALLEGED SUBSIDIES
For a list of alleged countervailing duty programs, please see Attachment III.
IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE
The petition does not make public the volume and value of imports of subject merchandise.
CONTACT US
For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Jeffrey Neeley, Nithya Nagarajan, or Stephen Brophy.