New U.S. Antidumping Duty Petitions Target Polytetramethylene Ether Glycol from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam
The Petitions
BASF Corporation (“Petitioner”) filed new petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) seeking the imposition of antidumping duties (“AD”) on imports into the United States of polytetramethylene ether glycol (“PTMEG”) from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The Petitioner alleges that imports of PTMEG are being dumped in the U.S. market from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The Petitioner alleges that these imports are injuring the domestic producers.
The imported product subject to these petitions is PTMEG also known as polytetrahydrofuran (“PolyTHF” or “PTHF”), polytetramethylene ether glycol, and polybutylene glycol. PTMEG is a high-performance polymer derived from tetrahydrofuran. PTMEG is a waxy, white solid that melts into a clear, colorless, viscous liquid at room temperature. PTMEG is an extremely useful material widely employed as a reactant in the production of urethanes, where it serves as the soft block in elastomeric formulations. PTMEG provides both performance advantages and processing benefits across diverse industries due to its elasticity, hydrolysis resistance, and low-temperature flexibility.
As a component in polymers, PTMEG offers numerous beneficial properties, including good mechanical properties and excellent resiliency over a wide temperature range, low temperature flexibility, superior hydrolytic stability, superior resistance against microbes and fungus attack, high abrasion resistance, non-allergenic characteristics, superior dynamic properties with minimum heat build-up, high reactivity as a bi-functional primary alcohol, high tear strength, relatively low viscosities leading to easier processing and handling, and long shelf lives.
Scope of the Investigations
The following language describes the imported merchandise that the Petitioner intends to cover in these investigations:
The merchandise covered by this investigation is polytetramethylene ether glycol (“PTMEG”), which is a polymer consisting of linear diols (i.e., organic chemical compound that has two hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups) with a molecular backbone of repeating tetramethylene units (-CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-) interconnected through ether bonds (i.e., a single oxygen atom bonded to two carbon atoms), with a chemical formula HO{(CH2)4}nOH. PTMEG is also referred to as Polytetrahydrofuran, PTHF, Polytetramethylene ether glycol, PTMG, and Polybutylene glycol. PTMEG is typically blended with butylated hydroxytoluene (“BHT”) or another stabilizer. PTMEG is normally associated with Chemical Abstracts Service (“CAS”) registry number 25190-06-1.
The scope includes all forms of PTMEG, regardless of physical form, purity, molecular weight, number of hydroxyls, number of acids, color, density, softening point, glass transition point, flash point, water content, viscosity, and packaging. PTMEG that has been blended with other products is included within this scope when such blends include constituent parts that have been intermingled but that have not been chemically reacted with each other to produce a different product. For such blends, only the PTMEG component of the mixture is covered by the scope of these investigations.
The scope includes merchandise matching the above description that has been processed in a third country, including by commingling, diluting, introducing, or removing stabilizers, modifiers, or additives, or performing any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the subject country. The scope also includes PTMEG that is commingled or blended with PTMEG from sources not subject to these investigations. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of these investigations.
The subject merchandise is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) under subheading 3907.29.00. Subject merchandise may also be imported under HTSUS subheading 2932.11.00. Although the HTSUS subheading and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Key Facts
Petitioner: BASF Corporation
Foreign Producers/Exporters and U.S. Importers: Please contact Clark Hill’s international trade team for a listing of individual importers and exporters named in the petitions.
AD margins: The Petitioner alleged the following AD margins:
- China: AD Margin 172.71% to 419.88 % ad valorem.
- South Korea: AD Margin 116.39% to 132.36 % ad valorem.
- Taiwan: AD margin from 165.84% to 212.90 %, ad valorem.
- Vietnam: AD margin from 78.72% to 295.36 %, ad valorem.
The Investigations
The DOC and the ITC will conduct parallel investigations. The ITC will first determine if there is a reasonable indication of material injury or threat of injury to the U.S. industry. The DOC will then determine whether imports are being dumped and will calculate corresponding AD duty margin that importers will need to pay on their entries.
If the DOC issues an affirmative preliminary determination, importers will be required to deposit the estimated AD duties on their imports as of the date that the DOC publishes its affirmative preliminary determination in the Federal Register. In this case, the DOC’s preliminary determinations are currently expected by September 15, 2026, although the schedule is subject to change. Importers should be aware that cash deposits may apply earlier if the DOC finds that there is a surge of imports after the petitions were filed.
Next Steps
Given the compressed statutory deadlines in U.S. antidumping duty proceedings, producers/exporters and relevant stakeholders may begin preparing immediately. As practical first steps, affected parties could:
- Confirm whether their products fall within the proposed scope
- Identify the legal entities involved in production, export, and sale to the United States
- Preserve and organize detailed information concerning U.S. and home market (or third-country) sales, including pricing and terms of sale
- Prepare for possible DOC questionnaires and follow-up requests shortly after initiation
- Coordinate across accounting, sales, and production teams to ensure that reported sales and cost data are complete, consistent, and fully reconcilable
If this product is of interest to your business, please contact Clark Hill’s international trade for additional details and strategic guidance.
A schedule of approximate key dates is below.
|
Approximate Key Dates*
|
||
| Antidumping Duty Investigation | ||
| Event | No. of Days | Date of Action |
| Petition Filed | 0 | 4/8/2026 |
| DOC Initiation Date | 20 | 4/28/2026 |
| DOC Separate Rate Applications | 41 | 5/19/2026 |
| DOC Q&V Questionnaires | 44 | 5/22/2026 |
| ITC Preliminary Determination | 45 | 5/26/2026 |
| DOC Preliminary AD Determination | 160 | 9/15/2026 |
| DOC Final AD Determination | 235 | 11/30/2026 |
| ITC Final AD Determination | 280 | 1/13/2027 |
| DOC AD Publication of Order | 287 | 1/20/2027 |
* All deadlines are approximate and are subject to change throughout the course of an investigation. Deadlines that fall on a weekend or Federal holiday are extended to the next business day, as shown above. Contact Clark Hill for current updates and details.
Contact Clark Hill
If you have questions regarding the content of this alert, please contact any member of Clark Hill’s International Trade Practice:
- Mark R. Ludwikowski (mludwikowski@clarkhill.com; 202-640-6680)
- Kevin Williams (kwilliams@clarkhill.com; 312-985-5907)
- Kelsey Christensen (kchristensen@clarkhill.com; 202-230-9889)
- Aristeo Lopez (alopez@clarkhill.com; 202-552-2366)
- Ashley Gifford (agifford@clarkhill.com; 202-640-6655)
- Laura M. Quesada (Lquesada@clarkhill.com; 202-240-0170)
- Amal Sheheen (asheheen@clarkhill.com; 202-552-2354)
- Onjoly Purification (Opurification@clarkhill.com; 202-552-2361)
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