On March 11, 2024, the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) received notice from the World Trade Organization (WTO) about the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) initiating a global safeguard investigation with artificial staple fiber products from polyester (Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber).

I. Relevant information

1. Date of initiation of investigation: February 28, 2024.

2. Item under investigation: Artificial staple fiber from polyester (Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber) with HS Code: 5503.20.0025.

3. Plaintiff: US manufacturers of man-made polyester staple fibers, including: Fiber Industries LLC d/b/a Darling Fibers; Nan Ya Plastics Corp., America; and Sun Fiber LLC.

4. Reason for the allegation: The plaintiff alleges that the import of artificial staple fibers from polyester has increased sharply compared to domestic production and consumption, causing serious damage and affecting the domestic production industry.

5. Final Conclusion

President Joe Biden of the United States has issued a decision to impose a global safeguard on imports of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber (HS code 5503.20.00 and classified under HS 5503.20.0025 or 9813.00.0520) into the United States. This decision will take effect on November 23, 2024.

Accordingly, the safeguard measure is applied in the form of an import quota for four years, with the import quota set at zero in the first year and increasing by one million pounds in each of the following three years. The United States intends to conduct a mid-term review of the measure before the end of the second year and is expected to complete it no later than the mid-term of the measure.

II. Case calendar 

The case documents are attached below: