1. On 03/22/2019, Commerce published in the Federal Register its countervailing duty order on certain plastic decorative ribbons (plastic ribbons) from the People's Republic of China (China) (84 FR 10786).

2. The merchandise covered by this order is certain plastic decorative ribbon, having a width (measured at the narrowest span of the ribbon) of less than or equal to four (4) inches, but disregarding any features that measure 4 inches or less in width, such as tapering or cutting at the ends or in a bow knot, provided that aggregate length of such features comprises no more than 20% of the length of the ribbon. Subject merchandise includes but is not limited to ribbon wound onto itself; a spool, a core or a tube (with or without flanges); attached to a card or strip; wound into a keg- or egg-shaped configuration; made into bows, bow-like items, or other shapes or configurations; and whether or not packaged or labeled for retail sale. The subject merchandise is typically made of substrates of polypropylene, but may be made in whole or in part of any type of plastic, including without limitation, plastic derived from petroleum products and plastic derived from cellulose products. Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the word “ribbon” used in the singular includes the plural and the plural “ribbons” includes the singular.

The subject merchandise includes ribbons comprised of one or more layers of substrates made, in whole or in part, of plastics adhered to each other, regardless of the method used to adhere the layers together, including without limitation, ribbons comprised of layers of substrates adhered to each other through a lamination process. Subject merchandise also includes ribbons comprised of (a) one or more layers of substrates made, in whole or in part, of plastics adhered to (b) one or more layers of substrates made, in whole or in part, of non-plastic materials, including, without limitation, substrates made, in whole or in part, of fabric.

The ribbons subject to this order may be of any color or combination of colors (including without limitation, ribbons that are transparent, translucent or opaque) and may or may not bear words or images, including without limitation, those of a holiday motif. The subject merchandise includes ribbons with embellishments and/or treatments, including, without limitation, ribbons that are printed, hot-stamped, coated, laminated, flocked, crimped, die-cut, embossed (or that otherwise have impressed designs, images, words or patterns), and ribbons with holographic, metallic, glitter or iridescent finishes.

Subject merchandise includes “pull-bows” an assemblage of ribbons connected to one another, folded flat, and equipped with a means to form such ribbons into the shape of a bow by pulling on a length of material affixed to such assemblage, and “pre-notched” bows, an assemblage of notched ribbon loops arranged one inside the other with the notches in alignment and affixed to each other where notched, and which the end user forms into a bow by separating and spreading the loops circularly around the notches, which form the center of the bow. Subject merchandise includes ribbons that are packaged with non-subject merchandise, including ensembles that include ribbons and other products, such as gift wrap, gift bags, gift tags and/or other gift packaging products. The ribbons are covered by the scope of this order; the “other products” (i.e., the other, non-subject merchandise included in the ensemble) are not covered by the scope of this order.

Excluded from the scope of this order are the following: (1) ribbons formed exclusively by weaving plastic threads together; (2) ribbons that have metal wire in, on, or along the entirety of each of the longitudinal edges of the ribbon; (3) ribbons with an adhesive coating covering the entire span between the longitudinal edges of the ribbon for the entire length of the ribbon; (4) ribbon formed into a bow without a tab or other means for attaching the bow to an object using adhesives, where the bow has: (a) an outer layer that is either flocked, made of fabric, or covered by any other decorative coating such as glitter (whether of plastic or non-plastic materials), and (b) a flexible metal wire at the base which permits attachment to an object by twist-tying; (5) elastic ribbons, meaning ribbons that elongate when stretched and return to their original dimension when the stretching load is removed; (6) ribbons affixed as a decorative detail to non-subject merchandise, such as a gift bag, gift box, gift tin, greeting card or plush toy, or affixed (including by tying) as a decorative detail to packaging containing non subject merchandise; (7) ribbons that are (a) affixed to non-subject merchandise as a working component of such non-subject merchandise, such as where the ribbon comprises a book marker, bag cinch, or part of an identity card holder, or (b) affixed (including by tying) to non-subject merchandise as a working component that holds or packages such non-subject merchandise or attaches packaging or labeling to such non-subject merchandise, such as a “belly band” around a pair of pajamas, a pair of socks or a blanket; (8) imitation raffia made of plastics having a thickness not more than one (1) mil when measured in an unfolded/untwisted state; (9) cords, i.e., multiple strands of materials that have been braided, gimped or twisted together; and (10) ribbons in the form of bows having a diameter of less than seven-eighths (7/8) of an inch, or having a diameter of more than 16 inches, based on actual measurement. For purposes of this exclusion, the diameter of a bow is equal to the diameter of the smallest circular ring through which the bow will pass without compressing the bow.

The scope of this order excludes shredded plastic film or shredded plastic strip, in each case where the shred does not exceed 5 mm in width and does not exceed 18 inches in length.

The scope of this order excludes plastic garlands and plastic tinsel garlands, imported in lengths of not less than three (3) feet. The longitudinal base of these garlands may be made of wire or non-wire material, and these garlands may include plastic die-cut pieces. Also excluded are items made of plastic garland and/or plastic tinsel where the items do not have a tab or other means for attaching the item to an object using adhesives. This exclusion does not apply to plastic garland bows, plastic tinsel bows, or other bow-like products made of plastic garland or plastic tinsel.

The scope of this order excludes ribbons made exclusively of fabric formed by weaving or knitting threads together, or by matting, condensing or pressing fibers together to create felt fabric, regardless of thread or fiber composition, including without limitation, fabric ribbons of polyester, nylon, acrylic or terylene threads or fibers. This exclusion does not apply to plastic ribbons that are flocked.

The scope of this order excludes ribbons having a width of less than three (3) mm when incorporated by weaving into mesh material (whether flat or tubular) or fabric ribbon (meaning ribbon formed by weaving all or any of the following: man-made fibers, natural fibers, metal threads and/or metalized yarns), in each case only where the mesh material or fabric ribbon is imported in the form of a decorative bow or a decorative bow-like item.

Further, excluded from the scope of the antidumping duty order are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip (PET Film) from the People's Republic of China (China). See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from Brazil, the People's Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates: Antidumping Duty Orders and Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value for the United Arab Emirates, 73 FR 66595 (November 10, 2008).

Merchandise covered by this order is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 3920.20.0015 and 3926.40.0010. Merchandise covered by this order also may enter under subheadings 3920.10.0000; 3920.20.0055; 3920.30.0000; 3920.43.5000; 3920.49.0000; 3920.62.0050; 3920.62.0090; 3920.69.0000; 3921.90.1100; 3921.90.1500; 3921.90.1910; 3921.90.1950; 3921.90.4010; 3921.90.4090; 3926.90.9996; 5404.90.0000; 9505.90.4000; 4601.99.9000; 4602.90.0000; 5609.00.3000; 5609.00.4000; and 6307.90.9889. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.

3. For imports of plastic ribbons from China, CBP shall suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 03/21/2019 (date of publication of the International Trade Commission final determination in the Federal Register). Effective 03/21/2019, CBP shall require a cash deposit equal to the percentages identified below.

Producer and/or Exporter: All Others
Case Number: C-570-076-000
Subsidy Rate: 16.15 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: Joynice Gifts & Crafts Co., Ltd.
Case Number: C-570-076-001
Subsidy Rate: 14.27 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: Seng San Enterprises Co., Ltd.
Case Number: C-570-076-002
Subsidy Rate: 18.03 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: Santa's Collection Shaoxing Co., Ltd.
Case Number: C-570-076-003
Subsidy Rate: 94.67 percent

4. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OVII:CBG)

5. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur