ITC decision on polychloroprene rubber to come in March

Washington DC - The US-based International Trade Commission´s decision on whether to reconsider its antidumping duties against Japanese polychloroprene rubber imports probably will come by mid-March, according to an attorney representing Gates Corp. in the matter.

The deadline for comments on the polychloroprene issue was Feb. 10, and the ITC has a deadline of 30 days after comment closing to make its decision, according to Frank Schuchat of the Denver firm of Schuchat, Herzog & Brenman, LLC.

Gates petitioned the agency in November, claiming that the closing of the Polimeri Europa SpA polychloroprene factory in France and DuPont Performance Elastomers LLC's plans to close its Louisville, Ky., polychloroprene plant represented changed circumstances that mandated reconsideration of the duties on Japanese polychloroprene.

Goodyear and the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, among others, support Gates on this issue, while DPE and Lanxess Corp. oppose reopening the duties issue.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)