US commerce department investigates price dumping on Vietnam paper bags

Paper shopping bags exported from Vietnam to the U.S. showed signs of being sold at less than their fair value, according to preliminary results announced by the International Trade Administration under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The investigation period was between October 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The U.S. Department of Commerce preliminarily determined that the weighted-average dumping margin made by four Vietnam-based producers was 51.25%, while the Vietnam-wide entity figure was 92.34%.

Among the four Vietnam-based producers, namely Goldsun Packaging and Printing JSC, Dong Sung Vina Printing Co., Ltd, Khang Thanh Manufacturing Company Limited, Vietnam Red Star Industry Company Limited, only Goldsun was eligible for a separate rate.

The U.S. Department of Commerce will collect comments on the preliminary findings and make its final determination no later than 135 days after January 3, 2024.

Vietnam earned a revenue of $1.92 billion from exporting paper and paper products between January and November 2023, up 10.3% year-on-year, according to customs data. The U.S. was the biggest importer in the period with $479.6 million, followed by China with $435.9 million and South Korea with $352.6 million.