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News Release

March 24, 2000
Contact: Paul Rosenthal, Esq. 202.342.8400
             Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, pllc, Washington, DC (counsel to petitioner)

Antidumping Duties Announced on Polyester Fiberfill Imports

(Washington, D.C.) - The Commerce Department today announced final antidumping margins ranging from 8% to 14% on most polyester fiberfill imports from South Korea and Taiwan, according to Paul Rosenthal, counsel to a coalition of U.S. producers of polyester fiberfill.

Said Rosenthal, “If the International Trade Commission (ITC) rules affirmatively on injury, antidumping duties will be assessed on the vast majority of polyester fiberfill imports from the two countries. We are disappointed, however, that Commerce did not impose antidumping duties on imports from Taiwanese producer Nan Ya and Korean producer Sam Yang. The domestic industry may appeal these decisions.”

For other producers, Commerce assigned the following antidumping duty margins: Taiwanese producer Far Eastern and other Taiwanese producers, 10%; Korean producers Sam Young, 8%; Geum Poong, 14%; and all other Korean producers, 11%.

On May 17, 1999, the ITC voted unanimously in a preliminary ruling that the imports from South Korea and Taiwan injure or threaten material injury to the U.S. fiberfill producers. It must now make a final determination on injury, which is scheduled to be announced next month. Shortly thereafter, Commerce will issue the antidumping duty orders.

Dumping, an unfair trade practice under U.S. law and the rules of the World Trade Organization, is selling goods in a foreign country at prices below the cost of production or the price in the home country. Antidumping duties represent the difference between the foreign home market and U.S. prices. They are assessed on dumped products to eliminate the margin of dumping.

The petitioners produce approximately 90% of polyester fiberfill in the U.S. The material is used in mattresses, bedding, pillows, furniture, and outdoor apparel.

The petitioners in the South Korea case are: E.I. DuPont De Nemours, Inc., Wilmington, DE; KoSa, Houston, TX; Wellman, Inc., Shrewsbury, NJ; and Intercontinental Polymers, Inc., Lowland, TN. The petitioners in the Taiwan case are KoSa, Wellman, Inc., and Intercontinental Polymers, Inc.