Three U.S. textile companies, including DAK Americas of Charlotte, have filed an anti-dumping petition against China.
They allege unfairly priced Chinese imports of certain polyester staple fiber -- a man-made fiber used as stuffing in sleeping bags, mattresses and furniture -- are injuring the domestic industry.
The filing asks the U.S. government to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports of the fiber.
Other companies filing for relief are New Jersey-based Wellman Inc. (NYSE:WLM - News), which has major operations in the Lancaster County, and Nan Ya Plastics Corp. of Lake City, S.C.
The petition contends Chinese imports of the fiber surged 161 percent to 195 million pounds in 2005 from 75 million pounds in 2003.
"The domestic industry is injured and facing escalating raw-material costs that cannot be fully recovered in the current atmosphere of suppressed pricing caused by Chinese imports," says Paul Rosenthal, lead counsel for the petitioners. "The domestic industry needs relief from the dumped Chinese imports of certain polyester staple fiber so that the industry can earn a reasonable margin."
