Synthos joins Kumho in fight against US E-SBR duties

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Polish rubber producer Synthos wants to join South Korean producer Kumho Petrochemical in challenging a decision by the US to impose duties on imports of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (E-SBR).

Emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (E-SBR) is used in the production of tyres.

Earlier in 2017, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that E-SBR from Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and Poland was being sold into the country for less than its fair value.

Kumho has already challenged the determination in the US Court of International Trade. Synthos wants permission to intervene in the case. It filed the request on Monday.

The events leading up to the legal proceedings started in July 2016, when US producers Lion Elastomers and the now defunct East West Copolymer filed petitions that requested antidumping duties against E-SBR imports from the four countries.

The US began investigating the allegations in August 2016.

In September 2016, the commission made a preliminary determination and found a reasonable indication that ESBR imports from those four countries were harming the US.

On 3 August, the commission found that the imports had harmed US producers.

The anti-dumping duty orders were published in the Federal Register on 12 September. Kumho then filed a summons on 12 October. It filed a complaint on 11 November.

The case number of the Kumho proceedings is 1:17-cv-00249-JCG. They are filed in the US Court of International Trade.

ARLANXEO is also challenging the duties through its Brazilian and US subsidiaries. Its case number is 1:17-cv-00247-JCG.

Synthos also wants to intervene in the ARLANXEO proceedings.