The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of certain expandable polystyrene resins from Indonesia and Korea that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman and Stephen Koplan made affirmative determinations. Commissioner Thelma J. Askey made negative determinations. Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun did not participate in the preliminary phase of these investigations.

As a result of the ITC's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations of imports of certain expandable polystyrene resins from Indonesia and Korea, with its preliminary antidumping determinations due on or about May 1, 2000.

The Commission's public report Certain Expandable Polystyrene Resins from Indonesia and Korea (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-861 and 862 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3266, January 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after February 3, 2000, by calling 202-205- 1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description:

The product subject to these investigations is, as defined by the Department of Commerce, "the raw material manufactured in the form of polystyrene beads, whether of regular (shape) type or modified (block) type, regardless of specification, having a weighted-average molecular weight of between 160,000 and 260,000, containing from 3 to 7 percent blowing agents, and having bead sizes ranging from 0.4 mm to 3 mm." Apparently excluded from this definition are cup-grade EPS resins and off-grade, off-specification EPS resins.

Status of Proceedings:

1.    Type of investigations: Preliminary antidumping.
2.    Petitioners:  BASF Corp (BASF), Mount Olive, NJ; Huntsman Expandable Polymers Co. LC
            (Huntsman), Salt Lake City, UT; NOVA Chemicals, Inc. (Nova), Moon Township, PA;
            and StyroChem U.S., Ltd. (StyroChem), Radnor, PA.
3.    Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  November 22, 1999.
4.    USITC conference:  December 13, 1999.
5.    USITC vote:  January 6, 2000.
6.    USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  January 6, 2000.


U.S. Industry:

1.    Number of producers reporting production in 1998:  4.
2.    Location of producers' plants: Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas.
3.    Employment of production and related workers in 1998:  371.
4.    Apparent U.S. consumption in 1998:  674.7 million pounds (valued at $333.2 million).


U.S. Imports:

1.    From the subject countries in 1998: 
            Indonesia:  11.9 million pounds (valued at $5.1 million); 
            Korea:  31.4 million pounds (valued at $12.7 million).
2.    From nonsubject countries in 1998:  76.4 million pounds (valued at $38.5 million).