WASHINGTON—The U.S. International Trade Commission has voted 5-0 to make a final determination of material injury to the domestic rubber band industry because of imports from Thailand.
The April 9 vote means that the 5.87-percent antidumping duty order the U.S. Department of Commerce issued earlier this year against Thai rubber band imports becomes permanent.
The ITC will officially notify Commerce of the affirmative vote April 22.
The duties against Thai rubber band importers are considerably less than those found against importers from China. In February 2019, Commerce issued final antidumping duties of 125.77 percent and countervailing duties of 27.27 percent against Chinese importers.
Hot Springs, Ark.-based Alliance Rubber Co. petitioned the ITC for relief against rubber band imports from Thailand, China and Sri Lanka in January 2018.
In March 2018, the agency terminated its investigation against Sri Lanka, but voted to continue its investigation of Chinese and Thai rubber band imports.
The ITC report will be available by May 13. When available, it can be accessed on the USITC website.