US extends anti-dumping duties on PET film from China, UAE

WASHINGTON -- A US trade panel voted Friday to extend anti-dumping duties on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) film, sheet and strip from China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the first five-year review of the measures imposed initially in 2008.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted against revoking the existing duty orders on PET film from China and the UAE, saying it "would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time."

The US Commerce Department is required to remove an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC vote against it, according to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

PET film refers to a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is widely used in containers for food and beverage, package wrappers, bottle caps and materials for liquid crystal display panels.

The United States initially issued the anti-dumping duty orders on imports of PET film from China and the UAE in November 2008. The Commerce Department agreed to institute the first five-year review of the measures in October 2013 and the ITC voted to conduct full reviews in January 2014.

As a result of the ITC's affirmative ruling, anti-dumping tariffs ranging from 3.49 percent to 76.72 percent will be re-imposed on PET film from China, while the rate for products from the UAE will be placed at 4.05 percent.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to honor its commitment against protectionism and work with China to maintain a free, open and just trade environment.