FACT SHEET

Antidumping Duty Investigations on Imports of

Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from the People's Republic of China

On June 10, the Department of Commerce (the Department) announced its final determination in the antidumping duty investigations on imports of polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs) from the People's Republic of China (PRC), Malaysia, and Thailand.   The Department found that producers/exporters have sold PRCBs in the U.S. market at less than fair value, with margins ranging from 0.20 percent to 77.33 percent for the PRC, 0.91 percent to 101.74 percent for Malaysia, and 0.62 percent to 122.88 percent for Thailand.

Next Steps: The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to announce its final injury determination on or about July 23.   If the ITC makes an affirmative determination that imports of PRCBs are materially injuring, or threatening to materially injure, the domestic industry in the United States, then the Department will issue an antidumping order and instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect antidumping duties.   If the ITC makes a negative injury determination, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.

Petitioners:   The petition requesting this investigation was filed by the Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bag Committee, and its individual members, PCL Packaging, Inc., Sonoco Products Company, Superbag Corp., Vanguard Plastics, Inc., and Inteplast Group, Ltd..

Product Description:   The merchandise subject to this investigation is PRCBs which may be referred to as t-shirt sacks, merchandise bags, grocery bags, or checkout bags.   The subject merchandise is defined as non-sealable sacks and bags with handles (including drawstrings), without zippers or integral extruded closures, with or without gussets, with or without printing, of polyethylene film having a thickness no greater than .035 inch (0.889 mm) and no less than .00035 inch (0.00889 mm), and with no length or width shorter than 6 inches (15.24 cm) or longer than 40 inches (101.6 cm).   The depth of the bag may be shorter than 6 inches but not longer than 40 inches (101.6 cm).  

PRCBs are typically provided without any consumer packaging and free of charge by retail establishments ( e.g., grocery, drug, convenience, department, specialty retail, discount stores, and restaurants) to their customers to package and carry their purchased products.   The scope of the investigation excludes (1) polyethylene bags that are not printed with logos or store names and that are closeable with drawstrings made of polyethylene film and (2) polyethylene bags that are packed in consumer packaging with printing that refers to specific end-uses other than packaging and carrying merchandise from retail establishments ( e.g., garbage bags, lawn bags, trash-can liners).

Imports of the subject merchandise are currently classifiable under subheading 3923.21.0090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).   This subheading also covers products that are outside the scope of this investigation.   Furthermore, although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Final Dumping Margins:

Case Calendar:

* This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determinations by both the Department and the ITC.

Import Statistics: