On September 27, Eastman Kodak Company filed multiple petitions concerning imports of aluminum lithographic printing plates from Asian countries. Two new U.S. antidumping (“AD”) duty petitions were filed, along with one countervailing duty (“CVD”) petition aimed at tackling what is perceived as unfair pricing and government subsidies.
The countries specifically named by Eastman Kodak in these AD petitions are China and Japan. The company has alleged that these nations are engaging in dumping, a formal trade term for selling a product in a foreign market at below its inherent value, which in turn can harm industries in the importing country.
In addition to these claims, Eastman Kodak filed a separate CVD petition against China. Countervailing duties are tariffs imposed by a country to counteract the negative effects of foreign subsidies. This type of duty is used when a foreign country subsidizes its exports, hurting domestic producers in the importing nation. Details of these petitions have been reported by Clark Hill PLC.
While major corporations and law firms will be keeping a close eye on these developments, it’s important to remember that these are just allegations at this stage. The process for investigating and potentially imposing antidumping and countervailing duties is a legal one, and it may take some time before any concrete decisions are made by the relevant U.S. governmental departments.
The outcome of Eastman Kodak’s petitions could have significant implications for businesses in multiple sectors, particularly those in the printing, publishing, and aluminum industries, not to mention the ongoing trade relations between the U.S., China, and Japan.
This news should prompt international corporations and their teams of legal professionals to review their trade operations with these countries, particularly in relation to the import and use of aluminum lithographic plates. Companies should also assess their current strategies with the potential for changes to U.S. import duties in mind.