U.S. Keeps Countervailing Duties on PET Film from India
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On February 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce published final results of its fourth sunset review of the countervailing duty order on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, sheet, and strip from India.
The Department of Commerce found that ending the current order would likely allow unfair subsidies from India to continue or happen again. These subsidies help Indian companies sell PET film in the U.S. at unfair, lower prices.
The original countervailing duty order was put in place on July 1, 2002. This review was part of the normal five-year cycle to check if the duties are still needed.
The review started on August 1, 2025. Two U.S. companies, Microworks America, Inc. and Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc.—Polyester Film Division, filed notices to take part in the review. They are both U.S. producers of PET film products.
By August 29, 2025, both companies sent in full responses. These are required to keep the review going. The Government of India and Indian companies did not respond.
Without responses from India, the Department of Commerce moved to an expedited 120-day review. This kind of review is allowed under U.S. law when only one side joins in.
There were delays in the process due to a federal government shutdown in 2025. As a result, deadlines were extended by a total of 68 days (47 days on November 14, 2025, and another 21 days on November 24, 2025). The final deadline was February 5, 2026.
The Department has decided to keep the duties in place. It found that removing them would lead to continued subsidization. The subsidy rates that would likely return are as follows:
- Ester Industries Ltd. – 23.21%
- Garware Polyester Ltd. – 29.45%
- Polyplex Corporation Ltd. – 18.57%
- All Others – 25.25%
These rates show how much financial help Indian companies could get from their government if the duties were removed.
The Department’s full findings are in a document called the “Issues and Decision Memorandum.” This public document is available online through Enforcement and Compliance’s ACCESS portal.
This notice also reminds those involved that all sensitive information covered by an administrative protective order must be returned or destroyed, as required by federal rules.
These results were signed by Christopher Abbott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, acting in place of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
The notice was officially filed on February 9, 2026, and posted in the Federal Register on February 10, 2026.
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