October 21, 2008
News Release 08-100
Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1131-1134 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC or Commission) today determined that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip from Brazil, China, and the United Arab Emirates that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value. The Commission determined that a U.S. industry is neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of these products from Thailand.

With respect to Brazil, China, and the United Arab Emirates, Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, Vice Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, and Commissioners Deanna Tanner Okun, Irving A. Williamson, and Dean A. Pinkert made affirmative threat determinations, and Commissioner Charlotte R. Lane voted in the affirmative. With respect to Thailand, Chairman Aranoff, Vice Chairman Pearson, and Commissioners Okun, Williamson, and Pinkert voted in the negative, and Commissioner Lane voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative threat determinations, the Department of Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from Brazil, China, and the United Arab Emirates. As a result of the Commission's negative determination, no order will be issued on imports of these products from Thailand.

The Commission's public report Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from Brazil, China, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1131-1134 (Final), USITC Publication 4040, October 2008) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after November 21, 2008, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

Product Description:

The product includes all gauges of raw, pre-treated, or primed polyethylene terephthalate film (PET Film), whether extruded or co-extruded. Excluded are metallized films and other finished films having at least one of their surfaces modified by the application of a performance-enhancing resinous or inorganic layer more than 0.00001 inches thick. Certain roller transport cleaning films and tracing and drafting films are also excluded. PET film is a high-performance, flexible, transparent or translucent biaxially oriented polyester film that is produced from PET polymer. The product is used in a myriad of downstream applications, including general purpose industrial and packaging-grade films, and specialty-grade magnetic media, electrical and imaging films. The merchandise subject to these investigations is provided for in statistical reporting number 3920.62.0090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigation:  Final antidumping.
2.  Petitioners: DuPont Teijin Films; Mitsubishi Polyester Film of America; and Toray Plastics
      (America), Inc.
3.  Investigations instituted by USITC:  September 28, 2007.
4.  Hearing:  September 18, 2008.
5.  USITC vote:  October 21, 2008.
6.  USITC notification of Department of Commerce:  October 31, 2008.   

U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of U.S. firms involved in production of subject PET film:  8.
2.  Production volume is concentrated in South Carolina, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Rhode
      Island, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2007:  2,324
4.  U.S. producers' U.S. shipments in 2007: (1)
5.  U.S. apparent consumption in 2007: (1)
6.  Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 2007: (1)

U.S. Imports:
1.  Quantity of subject imports in 2007: (1) 
2.  Value of subject imports in 2007: (1)

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.