US trade body backs ESBR dumping charges

Washington –The US International Trade Commission (ITC) determined 3 Aug that the domestic industry was materially injured by imports of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and Poland.

The country’s department of commerce had previously determined that the materials were being sold in the US at less than fair value.

Commerce on 11 July issued anti-dumping duty orders on ESBR products imported from Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and Poland. It ruled that producers from those nations were dumping their products in the U.S. at margins ranging from 9.66 to 44.3%.

Lion Elastomers LLC and East West Copolymer LLC were the petitioners in the case. East West has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, closed its factory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and sold the facility to Lion Elastomers. The site is not expected to reopen.

The ITC also made a negative finding concerning critical circumstances regarding products imported from South Korea.

Goods sold at less than fair value that entered the US from South Korea prior to 24 Feb (the date of the Commerce's affirmative preliminary determination), will not be subject to retroactive antidumping duties.

The ITC's public report, "Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico and Poland (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Final), USITC Publication 4717, August 2017) will contain the views of the ITC and information developed during the investigations It is to be posted on the ITC website by 13 Sept.