U.S. Finds Chinese Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes Sold Below Fair Value
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The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued a final ruling about corrugated boxes from China.
The government decided that polypropylene corrugated boxes from the People’s Republic of China are being sold in the United States for less than fair value. This trade practice is known as dumping.
The boxes are used to hold or carry goods. They are made from corrugated polypropylene sheets. These sheets have air pockets that make them strong and lightweight.
The final ruling comes after the Department’s review of the investigation period, which ran from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
Commerce published its preliminary ruling on August 28, 2025. That ruling also found that dumping had taken place. No one gave public comments to oppose or change the initial decision.
Due to a government funding lapse and shutdown, deadlines were changed twice—once on November 14, 2025, adding 47 days, and again on November 24, 2025, adding 21 more days. The final ruling was released on January 15, 2026.
No Chinese companies took part in the investigation. So, Commerce used “facts available with adverse inferences” (AFA). This means they based the rate for all box producers in China on facts in the record and assumed the worst outcome for not cooperating.
Because no companies got a separate rate, all producers in China are treated as one “China-wide entity.” The final dumping margin is 83.64 percent. The deposit rate (after adjusting for export subsidies) is set at 82.21 percent.
No calculations were needed to be shared because the rate used was based entirely on AFA, not on any responses from companies.
The product scope includes boxes, bins, totes, and other containers made with corrugated polypropylene sheets from China. These sheets may be known by different names, including fluted or hollow-core sheets. The boxes may be printed or blank, with or without handles, lids, tops, or wires.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will keep holding back (suspending liquidation of) imports of the products in question. This has been in effect since August 28, 2025.
CBP must require cash deposits from importers equal to the dumping margin. For China-based sellers and third-country exporters alike, this deposit rate will be adjusted for export subsidies, as listed in the recent chart.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will now decide if the domestic industry in the U.S. is being hurt or is in danger of being hurt by these imports. They have up to 45 days to make this decision.
If the ITC says there is no injury, the case will end and cash deposits will be returned. If the ITC finds injury, the Department of Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order.
Such an order would require CBP to collect duties on all subject goods that entered the U.S. after the preliminary ruling date.
If the case closes with a negative injury outcome, parties that received sensitive information must destroy or return it, as required under federal protective rules.
This decision was signed by Christopher Abbott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, on January 15, 2026.
The product is identified in trade under the code 3923.10.9000 in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). However, the written scope of the items is what matters for this decision.
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