US rubber makers seek anti-dumping duties on ESBR imports

Port Neches, Texas – Lion Elastomers and East West Copolymer have filed an anti-dumping petition against producers of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (ESBR) in Brazil, Korea, Mexico and Poland.

The filing with the US department of commerce and the US international trade commission was made with support of labour unions, said a 21 July statement from Lion Elastomers.

“The petition shows a pattern of extremely low and unfair pricing by imports from these countries that have seriously injured US manufacturers and their workers, through lost sales and lost jobs, “ said the Port Neches-based company.

The International Union of Operating Engineers and the United Steel Workers are supporting the petition, added the Texan SR maker.

The petition covers ESBR grades in the IISRP 1500 and 1700 series. The polymer is main used in tires, though other significant applications include conveyor belts, shoe soles, hoses, roller coverings, and flooring.

Under US law, the country's manufacturers can seek the imposition of anti-dumping duties to offset the margin of unfair pricing by foreign producers in the domestic market.

Estimated dumping margins for imports from these countries range from 30 to 80 percent, according to Lion Elastomers' statement.