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U.S. Moves Forward with Trade Investigations on Molded Fiber Products from China and Vietnam

Estimated reading time: 5–7 minutes

On May 30, 2025, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) announced important steps in its investigations on imports of thermoformed molded fiber products (TMFPs) from China and Vietnam.

The USITC is working to decide if the U.S. industry is being harmed by these imported products. The investigations will look at whether TMFPs from China and Vietnam are being sold in the United States at below fair value and if they are being subsidized by their governments.

The TMFPs include items like plates, bowls, trays, lids, food packaging, and other product packaging. These products are made from cellulose fibers and formed using heated molds. TMFPs can be any shape, size, color, or design. They can be made from any type of fiber, including recycled or natural fiber sources such as wood or agricultural by-products. They may also have extra treatments or features, like being heat resistant, water-resistant, or having special closures or designs.

Some products are not included in this investigation. For example, products covered by other trade orders on paper plates from China, Thailand, and Vietnam are excluded. TMFPs used only as packaging for other products, such as molded fiber around a phone, are also excluded from this case.

These investigations began after petitions were filed on October 8, 2024, by the American Molded Fiber Coalition, which includes two companies and a trade union.

The final phase of the investigations is scheduled under the Tariff Act of 1930. The USITC and the Department of Commerce will review if TMFPs from the two countries are causing material injury to the U.S. market.

The USITC has provided a detailed timeline:

  • The prehearing staff report will be issued on September 11, 2025, with a public version to follow.
  • The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
  • Requests to appear at the hearing must be filed by September 19, 2025.
  • Written testimony and presentation slides are due by noon on September 24, 2025.
  • Prehearing briefs must be filed by September 18, 2025.
  • Posthearing briefs are due by October 2, 2025.
  • The USITC will release more information to the parties on October 22, 2025, and final comments must be submitted by October 24, 2025.

Anyone wanting to take part in these investigations, including companies who use TMFPs or groups who represent buyers, must file an entry of appearance with the USITC. Electronic filing is required, and no paper filings will be accepted for now.

Business proprietary information (BPI) will be given to approved applicants under an administrative protective order. The USITC has rules for making these filings and handling confidential information.

All parties involved must serve documents on one another and submit a certificate of service. Submissions that do not follow these rules will not be accepted.

The USITC is conducting these investigations under Title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930.

For more information and to view the public record, visit https://www.usitc.gov.

Issued by order of the Commission on May 27, 2025.
Lisa Barton, Secretary to the Commission.


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