Hard Empty Capsules from Brazil, China, India, and Vietnam
On October 24, 2024, new antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions were filed against imports of Hard Empty Capsules from Brazil, China, India and Vietnam. Hard Empty Capsules (HEC) are unfilled cylindrical shells (usually gelatin based) that are used to hold pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products.
The petition was filed by Lonza Greenwood LLC, which is the U.S. affiliate of the Lonza Group which is headquartered in Switzerland. The Lonza Group has HEC production facilities in Belgium, China, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Japan, in addition to the United States.
Estas investigaciones sobre derechos antidumping y compensatorios serán llevadas a cabo por dos organismos federales. La Comisión de Comercio Internacional («ITC») investigará si las importaciones en cuestión han obstaculizado de manera significativa el establecimiento de la industria nacional. El Departamento de Comercio de los Estados Unidos («DOC») investigará si las importaciones en cuestión se están vendiendo en los Estados Unidos a un precio inferior al valor justo («dumping») o si se benefician de subvenciones gubernamentales desleales. Ambas agencias deben llegar a conclusiones afirmativas sobre el retraso sustancial (ITC) o sobre el dumping o las subvenciones (DOC) para que se puedan imponer derechos antidumping y compensatorios a las importaciones en cuestión.
Ámbito de aplicación
The merchandise subject to the scope of this investigations is hard empty capsules (HECs), which are unfilled cylindrical shells composed of at least 80 percent by weight of a non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible, and water soluble polymer, and may also contain water, additives, opacifiers, colorants, and processing aids. HECs may also be imprinted or otherwise decorated with markings.
See here for a full description of the proposed scope definition
Presuntos márgenes de derechos antidumping y compensatorios
El solicitante calculó los siguientes márgenes de dumping estimados
Brazil: 78.43% – 98.74%
China: 136.51% – 170.91%
India: 57.50% – 86.34%
Vietnam: 65.97% – 89.33%
El solicitante no presentó ningún cálculo concreto del margen de subvención.
Exportadores/productores designados
Petitioner included a list of companies that it believes are producers and exporters of the subject merchandise. See attached list of HEC exporters here.
Importadores estadounidenses designados
Petitioner included a list of companies that it believes are U.S. importers of the subject merchandise. See attached list of HEC importers here.
Calendario previsto de las investigaciones
October 24, 2024 – Petitions filed
November 13, 2024 – DOC initiates investigation
November 14, 2024 – ITC Staff Conference
November 6, 2024 – ITC preliminary determination
March 23, 2025 – DOC CVD preliminary determination (assuming extended deadline) (1/17/25 – unextended)
May 22, 2025 – DOC AD preliminary determination (assuming extended deadline) (4/2/25 – unextended)
October 4, 2025 – DOC final determination (extended)
November 18, 2025 – ITC final determination (extended)
November 25, 2025 – DOC AD/CVD orders issued (extended)
