The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has determined that there is a reasonable indication that the US industry is materially injured by reason of imports of polyester textured yarn from China and India that are allegedly subsidised and sold in the United States at less than fair value. The US department of commerce will continue its investigations.
 
“As a result of USITC’s affirmative determinations, the US department of commerce will continue with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of this product from China and India, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about January 11, 2019, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about March 27, 2019,” USITC said on its website.
 
Polyester textured yarn is synthetic multifilament yarn that is manufactured from polyester (polyethylene terephthalate). It is produced through a texturing process, which imparts special properties to the filaments of the yarn, including stretch, bulk, strength, moisture absorption, insulation, and the appearance of a natural fibre.
 
The petition for preliminary investigation was filed by Greensboro, North Carolina-based Unifi Manufacturing, Inc and Lake City, South Carolina-based Nan Ya Plastics Corp, America.
 
In 2017, there were nine producers of polyester textured yarn in the US—all based in North Carolina and South Carolina states. These companies together employed 1,043 workers producing $271.5 million worth of yarn, compared to domestic consumption of $404 million.
 
In 2017, total US imports of polyester textured yarn were valued at $132.5 million, with China and India accounting for $62.7 million of the same. (RKS)