On January 30, 2018, the Alliance Rubber Co. filed antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) petitions on rubber bands from China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The petitioner alleges that the subject merchandise from these countries is being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. The petitioner also alleges the governments of China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are subsidizing the foreign producers, giving them an advantage in the U.S. market. Importers of subject merchandise are liable for any potential antidumping or countervailing duties imposed.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) will investigate to determine whether the U.S. industry is being materially injured or threatened with material injury due to imports of subject merchandise from China, Sri Lanka, or Thailand. The U.S. Department of Commerce will determine whether the foreign companies are selling at less than fair value, or whether the foreign exporters are being subsidized by the foreign governments. Affirmative findings from both agencies are required for either AD or CVD duties to be imposed. The ITC will issue its preliminary determinations in the AD/CVD investigations by March 16, 2018. Unless extended, the Department of Commerce must issue its preliminary CVD determinations by April 26, 2018, and its preliminary AD determinations by July 10, 2018. The deadlines for the Department of Commerce’s preliminary determinations are subject to postponement.

The petitioner alleges the following dumping margins:

• Thailand: 60.82 percent
• China: 27.16 percent
• Sri Lanka: 48.63 percent

Scope

Merchandise covered by these proceedings is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff System of the United States (“HTSUS”) under sub-heading 4016.99.35.10 (Rubber Bands Made of Vulcanized Rubber, Except Hard Rubber, of Natural Rubber). Notably, this sub-heading pertains only to vulcanized rubber bands. The written description of the scope, provided below, is dispositive.

The products subject to the AD/CVD investigations are bands made of bands made of vulcanized rubber, with a flat length, as measured end-to-end by the band lying flat, no less than 1/2 inch and no greater• than 10 inches; with a width, which measures the dimension perpendicular to the length, of at least 3/64 inch and no greater than 2 inches; and a wall thickness from .020 inch to .125 inch. Vulcanized rubber has been chemically processed into a more durable material by the addition of sulfur or other equivalent curatives or accelerators. Subject products are included regardless of color or inclusion of printed material. The scope includes vulcanized rubber bands which are contained or otherwise exist in various forms and packages, such as, without limitation, vulcanized rubber bands included within a desk accessory set or other type of set or package, and vulcanized rubber band balls, but excludes Bedford Elastitags®, and bands that are being used at the time of import to fasten an imported product.

Projected Schedule

Petition is Filed – January 30, 2018
DOC Initiates Investigations – February 20, 2018
ITC Staff Conference – February 20, 2018
ITC Post-Conference Briefs – February 23, 2018
ITC Preliminary Determinations Issued – March 16, 2018
DOC Preliminary CVD (un-extended) – April 26, 2018
DOC Preliminary AD (un-extended) – July 10, 2018
DOC Preliminary CVD (extended) – July 2, 2018
DOC Preliminary AD (extended) – August 29, 2018

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