Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. slaps more duties on laminated woven sacks from Vietnam

In August, the U.S. Commerce Department concluded its preliminary investigations into imports of laminated woven sacks from Vietnam and it has found that exporters from Vietnam are receiving countervailable subsidies for the above-mentioned product at 3.24 to 6.15 percent.

Now, yesterday, the Commerce Department further announced that the exporters from Vietnam are dumping the above-mentioned product at margins ranging from 161.16 to 292.61 percent. As a result of the findings, the commerce department has asked the U.S. customs and border patrol (CBP) agency to collect cash deposits from importers of the item based on these additional rates.

The investigation was initiated based on a petition filed by a group of companies; Polytex Fibers Corporation (Houston, TX) and ProAmpac Holdings Inc. (Cincinnati, OH).

According to the department’s calculations, the imports of woven sacks from Vietnam were valued at an estimated $21.1 million in 2017.

Under President Trump, the U.S. Commerce Department has significantly stepped up its investigations into foreign malpractices in trade and the number of investigations initiated is 226 percent more than the previous administration.