The Department of Commerce has imposed antidumping duties on imports of Certain Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF) from China.
The Commerce Department calculated preliminary antidumping margins ranging from 44.30 percent to 4.39 percent of the value of Chinese imports.
Three Chinese producers were singled out in the preliminary determination: Cixi Jiangnan Chemical Fibers Co. (15.30 percent), Far Eastern Industries Shanghai (10.45 percent), and Ningbo Dafa Chemical Fibers Co. (4.39 percent).
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection will now require importers to post a bond or cash deposit in the amount of the duties, pending the final determination in the investigation and announcement of final duty amounts, which is expected in May 2007.
PSF is used as a stuffing material in sleeping bags, mattresses, ski jackts, comforters, cusions, pillows, and furniture.
"Today's announcement by the Commerce Department signals a return of fair pricing and competition in the marketplace," said Paul C. Rosenthal, lead counsel for the petitioners and managing partner of Kelley Drye Collier Shannon, Washington, D.C.
Rosenthal also noted that final antidumping duty margins were expected to be even higher.
The antidumping duty investigation began in June 2006 after American producers DAK Americas LLC, Charlotte, N.C., Nan Ya Plastics Corp. America, Lake City, S.C., and Wellman, Inc., Shrewsbury, N.J., filed a petition with the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Department of Commerce.
In August 2006, ITC Commissioners voted 6-0 to allow an investigation based on their belief that there existed a reasonable indication of injury to U.S. manufacturers.