FACT SHEET

Final Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of

Certain Crepe Paper Products from the People's Republic of China

On November 30, the Department of Commerce (Department) announced its final determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of certain crepe paper products from the People's Republic of China (PRC).   The Department found that producers/exporters have sold certain crepe paper products from the PRC in the U.S. market at less than fair value, at margins of 266.83 percent.   The Department is also conducting an antidumping investigation on imports of tissue paper from the PRC and will issue its final determination in February 2005.

Adverse Facts Available:  The final dumping margin of 266.83 percent on imports of crepe paper products is based on adverse facts available, as none of the mandatory respondent companies participated in the Department's investigation.

Companies Qualifying for a "Separate Rate" (Section A Respondents): The Department has determined that certain Chinese companies that voluntarily responded to the Department's Section A questionnaire have demonstrated an absence of government control with respect to their export activities and are eligible to receive "separate rate" status.   Four companies preliminarily qualified for a "separate rate," however, one Section A respondent declined to participate in verification and will be subject to the PRC-wide rate.   Further, because there are no other estimated margins available, we applied the petition margin of 266.83 percent as the rate for the three remaining Section A respondents.

Next Steps:   The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to announce its final injury determination on or about January 13, 2005.   If the ITC makes an affirmative determination that imports of crepe paper from the PRC are materially injuring, or threaten to materially injure, the domestic industry in the United States, the Department will issue an antidumping order and instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect antidumping duties on the subject imports.   If the ITC makes a negative injury determination, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.

Petitioner:   The petition requesting this investigation was filed on February 17, 2004, by Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts, Inc. (MA); American Crepe Corporation (PA); Eagle Tissue LLC (CT); Flower City Tissue Mills Co. (NY); Garlock Printing & Converting, Inc. (MA); Paper Service Ltd. (NH); Putney Paper Co., Ltd. (VT); and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union AFL-CIO, CLC.

Product Description:  The certain crepe paper products subject to this investigation have a basis weight not exceeding 29 grams per square meter prior to being creped and, if appropriate, flame-proofed.   Crepe paper has a finely wrinkled surface texture and is typically, but not exclusively, treated to be flame-retardant.   Crepe paper is also typically, but not exclusively, produced as streamers in roll form and packaged in plastic bags.   Crepe paper may or may not be bleached, dye-colored, surface-colored, surface decorated or printed, glazed, sequined, embossed, die-cut, and/or flame-retardant.   Subject crepe paper may be rolled, flat or folded, and may be packaged by banding or wrapping with paper, by placing in plastic bags, and/or by placing in boxes for distribution and use by the ultimate consumer.   Packages of crepe paper subject to this investigation may consist solely of crepe paper of one color and/or style, or may contain multiple colors and/or styles.

The merchandise subject to these investigations may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States in several basket categories, including: 4802.30, 4802.54, 4802.61, 4802.62, 4802.69, 4804.39, 4806.40, 4808.30, 4808.90, 4811.90, 4818.90, 4823.90, and 9505.90.40. Although the tariff classifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.

Final Dumping Margins:

Case Calendar :

*This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determination by the ITC.

Import Statistics (Estimated Customs Value, in US$):

Source: Petitioners = Estimates.   The subject merchandise falls under A basket @ categories of multiple HTS numbers, and therefore data for exact import quantities and values for certain crepe paper products were unavailable.