Eastman Kodak Company, the US based imaging technology company, on September 28, 2023, filed antidumping duty (AD) petitions targeting Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates from China and Japan, and a countervailing duty (CVD) petition on the same product from China. This strategic move by Eastman Kodak marks a significant moment in the international legal landscape surrounding trade and import regulations.
Antidumping duties are imposed by a domestic government on imported goods that it believes are priced below fair market value. Countervailing duties, on the other hand, are levies that seek to counteract the negative effects of import subsidies given by foreign governments to their domestic industries, to ensure a level playing field. In this case, Eastman Kodak alleges that the said products have been sold in the US market at less than fair value, causing material damage to the industry.
The petitions will invoke an investigation by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC). If these authorities find in favor of the petitioner, antidumping and/or countervailing duties will be applied to imports of the specified items. While the DOC will evaluate whether and to what extent dumping or subsidies have occurred, the ITC will evaluate whether the domestic industry has been significantly harmed by such unfair trade practices.
Given the economic and legal implications of this filing, it represents a significant development for corporations involved in the manufacturing and distribution of such products. Legal professionals in the field of international trade, corporate law, and intellectual property rights should stay abreast of developments related to this case.
For more detailed information about this case, legal practitioners and interested parties may refer to the detailed report found on
JD Supra.