The United States has implemented global safeguard measures against synthetic polyester staple fibers.

On November 19th, the Trade Remedies Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) announced that the United States has applied global safeguard measures to artificial polyester staple fiber products.

The Trade Remedies Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) announced that it has received notification from the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international organizations in Geneva regarding the decision by US President Joe Biden to apply global safeguard measures to imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber (HS code 5503.20.00, classified under HS 5503.20.0025 or 9813.00.0520) into the United States. This decision will take effect from November 23, 2024.

The United States has decided to implement global safeguard measures against synthetic polyester staple fibers. (Illustrative image)

Accordingly, the safeguard measure is applied in the form of import quotas for four years, with the import quota at zero in the first year and increasing by one million pounds in each of the following three years. The United States intends to conduct a mid-term review of the measure before the end of the second year and expects to complete it no later than the mid-term of the measure.

The case was reportedly initiated by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on February 28, 2024, following a request from U.S. manufacturers of polyester staple fibers, including Fiber Industries LLC d/b/a Darling Fibers; Nan Ya Plastics Corp, America; and Sun Fiber LLC. The plaintiffs alleged that imports of polyester staple fibers had increased significantly compared to domestic production and consumption, causing serious damage and impacting the domestic industry.

According to USITC data, in the period 2021-2023, the export value of the investigated products from Vietnam to the United States was approximately $5.9 million (with $5.2 million in 2023 alone, ranking 8th among exporting countries to the United States and accounting for 3% of the total import market share into the United States). Therefore, Vietnam is not on the list of countries excluded from the application of the measures.

Previously, the Trade Remedies Department stated that in 2017, this product was subject to anti-dumping investigations by the United States against South Korea, India, China, Taiwan (China), and Vietnam; and anti-subsidy investigations against China and India; but Vietnam was subsequently excluded from the scope of the investigation at the request of the plaintiff. Currently, products from the aforementioned countries/territories (excluding Vietnam) are still subject to anti-dumping/anti-subsidy duties.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/hoa-ky-ap-dung-bien-phap-tu-ve-toan-cau-voi-xo-soi-staple-nhan-tao-tu-polyester-359651.html