US Considers Trade Duties On Indian, Chinese PTFE Resin

by Glen Shapiro, Tax-News.com, New York

26 October 2017

The Department of Commerce has commenced new anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin from India and China.

PTFE is a synthetic polymer often used to coat non-stick cookware due to its non-reactive characteristics. It is also used to coat containers and pipework to protect against corrosion, as a lubricant, and as a graft material in medical surgery.

In 2016, imports of PTFE resin from China and India were valued at an estimated USD24.6m and USD14.3m, respectively.

The Department of Commerce launched the investigation on October 19, 2017, following a petition from US-based The Chemours Company, which owns the Teflon brand.

Dumping occurs when good are sold into a foreign market at below the prevailing market rate in the exporter's domestic market. Alleged dumping margins are 23.4 to 408.9 percent for exporters in China, and 15.8 to 128.1 percent for exporters in India.

Commerce will also investigate whether exporters from India are in receipt of countervailable subsidies.

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) is expected to report by November 13, 2017, whether it considers these exports materially injure US industry, or threaten to do so. Duties would be introduced in spring or summer of 2018.

TAGS: tax | India | law | anti-dumping | China