Taiwan

On May 22, 2018, Worthington Industries and Manchester Tank & Equipment Co. filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Steel Propane Cylinders from the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Commerce initiated the case on June 12, 2018. See the factsheet here.

On Friday, February 23, 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) imposed blocking sanctions against one individual, twenty-seven entities and twenty-eight vessels known to have previously provided maritime support to North Korean coal and petroleum transactions. OFAC added the individuals, entities and vessels to its Specially Designated Nationals List (the “SDN List”), which will generally prohibit the fifty-six sanctioned parties from transacting with the United States or any United States person.

On September 26, 2017, DAK Americas LLC, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, Indorama Ventures USA Inc., and M&G Polymers USA, LLC filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of Polyethylene Terephthalate (“PET”) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan.

On June 26, 2017, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The merchandise subject to this proceeding is synthetic staple fibers, not carded or combed, specifically bi-component polyester fibers having a polyester fiber component that melts at a lower temperature than the other polyester fiber component, used for bonding fibers together (“low melt PSF”). The scope includes bi-component polyester staple fibers of any denier or cut length. The subject merchandise may be coated, usually with a finish or dye, or not coated.

On May 31, 2017, Petitioners DAK Americas LLC, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, and Auriga polymers Inc. filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties and countervailing duties on imports of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from China, India, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

On March 31, 2017, President Trump signed two Executive Orders (EO) aimed at the enforcement of the collection of antidumping and countervailing duties for unfair trade practices and at the evaluation of significant trade deficits with U.S. trading partners. These EOs are a clear indication that trade, as promised throughout the campaign, will continue to be a top priority of the Trump presidency.