Plastic Decorative Ribbon from China Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

February 26, 2019
News Release 19-005
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of plastic decorative ribbon from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Meredith M. Broadbent, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China. 

The Commission’s public report Plastic Decorative Ribbon from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400 (Final), USITC Publication 4875, March 2019) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by April 8, 2019; 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

Plastic Decorative Ribbon from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-592 and 731-TA-1400 (Final)

Product Description:  Plastic decorative ribbons are long strips of material primarily used in gift wrap. The subject merchandise has a width of less than or equal to 4 inches (measured at the narrowest span of the ribbon), and include ribbon wound onto itself; a spool, a core or a tube (with or without flanges); attached to a card or strip; wound into a keg- or egg-shaped configuration; made into bows, bow-like items, or other shapes or configurations.  The subject merchandise is typically made of polypropylene. The ribbons may be of any color or combination of colors (including ribbons that are transparent, translucent or opaque) and may or may not bear words or images, including those of a holiday motif. Included are ribbons with embellishments and/or treatments, including ribbons that are printed, hot-stamped, coated, laminated, flocked, crimped, die-cut, embossed (or that otherwise have impressed designs, images, words or patterns), and ribbons with holographic, glitter, metallic, or iridescent finishes.     

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Final phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioner:  Berwick Offray LLC, Berwick, PA.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
4.   USITC Hearing Date:  Thursday, December 13, 2018.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Tuesday, February 26, 2019.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Monday, March 18, 2019.

U.S. Industry in 2017:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  2.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Missouri.
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 2017:

1.   Subject imports:  $18.4 million.
2.   Nonsubject imports:  ¹
3.   Leading import sources:  China.