May 9, 2024
News Release 24-037
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1675-1678
Contact: Philip Stone, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigations on Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) From Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and Turkey

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is subject to material injury by reason of imports of dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) from Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and Turkey that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of DOTP from Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and Turkey, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about September 2, 2024.

The Commission’s public report Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) from Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and Turkey (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1675-1678 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5505, May 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by June 6, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) from Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and Turkey

Investigation Nos.: 731-TA-1675-1678 (Preliminary)

Product Description: Dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) is a colorless, almost odorless, slightly viscous liquid that is used to make resins more flexible and easier to process as plastics. This synthetic organic chemical is part of a group of chemical products, known as plasticizers, that perform this role in the manufacture of plastics, including PVC. DOTP is a general-purpose, non-phthalate plasticizer used as an additive in multiple applications. The most significant end use in the United States is flexible flooring.

Status of Proceedings:

  1. Type of investigation:  Preliminary antidumping duty investigations.
  2. Petitioner: Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tennessee.
  3. USITC Institution Date:  Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
  4. USITC Conference Date:  Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
  5. USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, May 9, 2024.
  6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Friday, May 10, 2024.

U.S. Industry in 2023:

  1. Number of U.S. producers:  2.
  2. Location of producers’ plants:  Tennessee and Texas.
  3. Production and related workers:  1
  4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
  5. Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
  6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1

U.S. Imports in 2023:

  1. Subject imports:  $26 million.
  2. Nonsubject imports:  1
  3. Leading import sources:  Malaysia, Poland, Taiwan, and Turkey.

 

 1 Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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