The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from India that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and imports of this product from India, Indonesia, and Thailand that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Charlotte R. Lane, and Daniel R. Pearson voted in the negative. Commissioner Marcia E. Miller voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's negative determinations, no countervailing duty or antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from India, Indonesia, and Thailand will be issued.

The Commission's public report Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin from India, Indonesia, and Thailand (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-439 and 731-TA-1077, 1078, and 1080 (Final), USITC Publication 3769, April 2005) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be obtained after May 18, 2005, 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:
The product subject to these investigations is bottle-grade PET Resin having an intrinsic viscosity ("IV") of at least 0.68 deciliters per gram ("dl/g") but not more than 0.86 dl/g. The scope includes bottle-grade PET resin that contains various additives, but whose additives do not fundamentally alter the plastic's physical characteristics of strength and durability. The scope does not include recycled bottle-grade PET resin ("RPET"), whether from industrial waste or scrap, or from post-consumer chip; however, any resin that blends virgin PET resin with RPET is considered within the scope. Bottle-grade PET resin is provided for in statistical reporting number 3907.60.0010 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule ("HTS") of the United States, although any merchandise classified under HTS 3907.60.0050 that otherwise meets the written description in the scope should be considered subject merchandise.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Types of investigations:  Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: U.S. PET Resin Producers' Coalition. (1)
3. Investigations instituted by USITC: March 24, 2004.
4. Hearing:  March 15, 2005.
5. USITC vote:  April 19, 2005.
6. USITC notification to Commerce: May 3, 2005.   
                         
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. firms involved in production of subject product:  7 in 2004.
2. Production volume is concentrated on the East Coast primarily in the Carolinas, but also in
   West Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2004: 1,781.
4. U.S. producers' shipments in 2004: 4,311 million pounds.
5. U.S. apparent consumption in 2004: 5,211 million pounds.        
6. Share of quantity of total imports to apparent U.S. consumption in 2004: 17.3.    

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports in 2004: (2) 
2. Value of subject imports in 2004:  (2)

(1) DAK Americas, LLC; Nan Ya Plastics Corporation; Voridian, a division of Eastman Chemical Company; and Wellman, Inc.
(2) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.