GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

COMMERCE FINDS BRAZIL, CHINA AND UAE PRELIMINARILY DUMPING PET IN U.S.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced April 28 it has preliminarily determined that Brazil, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – but not Thailand – are dumping polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip (PET Film) in the United States.

The recent findings are part of a larger antidumping investigation launched in response to antidumping petitions filed by four U.S. companies – DuPont Teijin Films, Mitsubishi Polyester Film, SKC, Inc., and Toray Plastics, Inc. – alleging Brazil, China, the UAE and Thailand are selling PET in the U.S. at less than fair value.

Commerce has preliminarily determined that producers/exporters from Brazil, China, and the UAE have sold PET Film in the United States at 28.72 to 44.36 percent, 46.82 to 76.72 percent, and 2.45 percent less than fair value, respectively. As a result of these preliminary determinations, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates. For Thailand, Commerce will not instruct CBP to collect cash deposits or bonds.

If Commerce affirmatively determinations, and the U.S. International Trade Commission makes final determinations that imports of PET Film from Brazil, China, Thailand, and the UAE materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders. Commerce is currently scheduled to make its final determinations in July 2008.

FTC HOLDING WORKSHOP ON ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING CLAIMS FOR TEXTILES

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will a hold a public workshop in Washington, D.C. on July 15 to look at environmental marketing claims being made in the building and textile sectors.

The workshop is part of a larger regulatory review of the Commission's “Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims,” or “Green Guides” kicked off in November 2007.  The FTC held workshops on carbon offset and renewable energy certificate marketing and issues surrounding environmental packaging claims earlier this year.

Since the Green Guides were last reviewed in 1998, green claims have increased dramatically, a trend has been particularly prevalent in the marketing of green building and textiles. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of environmental seals and third-party certification programs purporting to verify the positive environment impact of textiles, building materials, and buildings.

 The FTC's July workshop will provide an opportunity for interested parties to study green textile and building claims. Specifically, topics for the workshop will include: 1) consumer perception of environmental claims for buildings and textile products; 2) the state of substantiation for green building and textile claims; and 3) the need for additional or updated FTC guidance in these areas. 

For more information on the July workshop: www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/buildingandtextiles/index.shtml