The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today made an affirmative final determination that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of extruded rubber thread from Indonesia that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

The affirmative determination resulted as follows. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, and Stephen Koplan voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Thelma J. Askey voted in the negative. Commissioner Carol T. Crawford found two domestic like products in this investigation. With regard to food grade extruded rubber thread, she voted in the negative. With regard to all other extruded rubber thread, she voted in the affirmative.

The ITC's vote in this final phase antidumping duty investigation was held on April 29, 1999, under section 735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. As a result of the affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will direct the U.S. Customs Service to impose antidumping duties on imports of extruded rubber thread from Indonesia.

The Commission's public report Extruded Rubber Thread from Indonesia (Investigation No. 731-TA-787 (Final), USITC Publication 3191, May 1999) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be obtained after May 24, 1999, by calling 202-205-1809 or from 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: Extruded rubber thread (ERT) consists of vulcanized rubber thread obtained by extrusion of stable or concentrated natural rubber latex of any cross sectional shape, measuring from 0.18 mm (0.007 inches, or 140 gauge) to 1.42 mm (0.056 inches, or 18 gauge) in diameter. The textile industry is the largest user of ERT. The product is processed into apparel such as panty hose and women's lingerie and is incorporated in wearing apparel such as underwear waistbands, sock tops, and parts of jogging suits. ERT is also used in the manufacture of more diverse products such as diapers, furniture webbing, and rubber toy "koosh" balls.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation: Final antidumping.
2.   Petitioner: North American Rubber Thread Co.
3.   Investigation instituted by the USITC: March 31, 1998.
4.   Commission hearing: March 25, 1999.
5.   USITC vote: April 29, 1999.
6.   USITC determination to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  May 7, 1999.


U.S. Industry:

1.   Number of producers in 1998:  Two.
2.   Location of producers' plants:  Massachusetts.
3.   Employment of production and related workers in 1998:  (1)
4.   Apparent U.S. consumption in 1998:  (1)
5.   Ratio of total U.S. shipments of imports to total U.S. consumption in  1998:  (1)


U.S. Imports:

1.   Quantity of subject imports in 1998:  (1)
2.   Value of subject imports in 1998:  (1)

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