July 20, 2017
News Release 17-102
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1320 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) from Korea Injures U.S. Industry, Says USITC

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) from Korea that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative.  Vice Chairman David S. Johanson voted in the negative.

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determination, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order on imports of this product from Korea.

The Commission’s public report Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) from Korea (Investigation No. 731-TA-1330 (Final), USITC Publication 4713, August 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available by August 23, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

 

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Dioctyl Terephthalate (DOTP) from Korea
Investigation No. 731-TA-1330 (Final)

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. It is a synthetic organic chemical and part of a group of chemical products, known as plasticizers, that perform this role in the manufacturing of plastics. DOTP is used in the manufacture of toys, flooring, hoses, flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC), adhesives, sealants, and wire and cable coatings.

Status of Proceedings:
1.  Type of investigation:  Final phase antidumping duty investigation
2.  Petitioners:  Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN
3.  USITC Institution Date:  Thursday, June 30, 2016.
4.  USITC Hearing Date:  Tuesday, June 13, 2017.
5.  USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, July 20, 2017.
6.  USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Wednesday, August 9, 2017.

U.S. Industry in 2016:
1.  Number of U.S. producers:  1.
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 2016:
1.  Subject imports:  1
2.  Nonsubject imports:  1
3.  Leading import sources:  Korea, China, and Mexico.

 

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

# # #