The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has accepted the Trade Remedies Authority’s (TRA) final recommendation to impose a new anti-dumping measure on low-priced imports of Suspension Poly(vinyl chloride) (S-PVC) from the USA.
A new duty of 38.43%-56.01% on imports of US-made S-PVC will now come into effect, with the cooperating US exporter that submitted relevant data receiving a lower rate than other exporters that did not cooperate.
During its investigation, the TRA found that as a result of price undercutting, the UK’s S-PVC industry faced downward price pressure from dumped US S-PVC, forcing it to reduce prices to levels that were unsustainable for its business operations.
The TRA also found that an anti-dumping measure on imports of S-PVC from the USA would allow the UK industry to compete fairly, enable it to operate closer to its full capacity and potentially increase its productivity.
S-PVC is used to create a range of products including water pipes, window frames, food packaging and in medical products such as blood storage bags. In 2022, the UK used around 440,000-480,000 metric tonnes of S-PVC with the UK market being worth around £660-£700m.
Background information:
- The TRA opened this investigation in response to an application from INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd.
- The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
- The TRA is an arm’s length body of the Department for Business & Trade.
- UK industries concerned about imports can submit applications to the TRA for a new trade remedy measure.
- Anti-dumping remedies address imported goods which are being dumped in the UK at prices below what they would be sold for in their home country.
