US imposes global safeguard on polyester man-made staple fibers

On November 19, the Department of Trade Defense ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) informed that the United States applied global self-defense measures on artificial staple fiber products made from polyester.

The Trade Remedies Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that it has received a notice from the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations in Geneva regarding the decision of US President Joe Biden to apply global safeguard measures on Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber imported into the United States (HS code 5503.20.00 and classified under HS 5503.20.0025 or 9813.00.0520). This decision will take effect from November 23, 2024.

The United States has decided to impose global safeguard measures on polyester man-made staple fiber products. Illustrative photo.

Accordingly, the safeguard measure will be applied in the form of an import quota for four years, with the import quota set 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 initiated by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on February 28, 2024, following a petition from US manufacturers of polyester man-made 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 man-made staple fibers have increased sharply compared to domestic production and consumption, causing serious injury and affecting the domestic industry.

According to USITC data, in the period 2021 - 2023, the export turnover of investigated products from Vietnam to the United States is approximately 5.9 million USD (in 2023 alone it is 5.2 million USD, ranking 8th among countries exporting 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 some countries excluded from applying measures.

Previously, the Department of Trade Defense said that in 2017, this product was subject to anti-dumping investigations by the United States against Korea, India, China, Taiwan (China) and Vietnam; anti-subsidy investigations against China and India; but Vietnam was later excluded from the scope of the investigation at the request of the plaintiff. Currently, products from the above countries/territories (except Vietnam) are still subject to anti-dumping/anti-subsidy taxes.

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