# Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
**AGENCY:**
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
**SUMMARY:**
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that the sole producer/exporter subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.
**DATES:**
Applicable February 10, 2026.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Nathan Araya, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3401, respectively.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
On August 16, 2018, Commerce published in the *Federal Register* an antidumping duty order on low melt polyester staple fiber (low melt PSF) from the Republic of Korea (Korea). [^1] On August 1, 2024, Commerce published in the *Federal Register* a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the AD order on low melt PSF from Korea. [^2] On September 20, 2024, based on a timely request for review, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we initiated an administrative review of the *Order.*[^3] The review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, Inc. (TAK).
[^1]*See Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan: Antidumping Duty Orders,* 83 FR 40752 (August 16, 2018) ( *Order* ).
[^2]*See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List,* 89 FR 62714 (August 1, 2024).
[^3]*See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews,* 89 FR 77079 (September 20, 2024).
On December 9, 2024, Commerce tolled the deadline for the preliminary results of this administrative review by 90 days. [^4] On June 17, 2025, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2), Commerce extended the deadline for the preliminary results by 120 days until December 1, 2025. [^5] Additionally, due to the lapse in appropriations and Federal Government shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by 47 days. [^6] Finally, due to a backlog of documents that were electronically filed via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS) during the Federal Government shutdown, on November 24, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by an additional 21 days. [^7] Accordingly, the deadline for these preliminary results is now February 5, 2026.
[^4]*See* Memorandum, “Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,” dated December 9, 2024.
[^5]*See* Memorandum, “Extension of Deadline for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,” dated June 17, 2025.
[^6]*See* Memorandum, “Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government,” dated November 14, 2025.
[^7]*See* Memorandum, “Tolling of All Case Deadlines,” dated November 24, 2025.
For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this review, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. [^8] A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as an appendix to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via ACCESS. ACCESS is available to registered users at *https://access.trade.gov.* In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at *https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.*
[^8]*See* Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the 2023-2024 Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
**Scope of the Order
9**
[^9]*See Order,* 83 FR at 40752.
The merchandise subject to the *Order* is synthetic staple fibers, not carded or combed, specifically bi-component polyester fibers having a polyester fiber component that melts at a lower temperature than the other polyester fiber component. For a complete description of the scope of the *Order, see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
**Methodology**
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with sections 751(a)(1)(B) and (2) of the Act. We calculated export price and NV in accordance with sections 772 and 773 of the Act, respectively. For a full description of the methodology underlying our conclusions, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
**Preliminary Results of Review**
We preliminarily determine that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024:
| Exporter/producer | Weighted-average dumping margin |
| --- | --- |
| Toray Advanced Materials Korea, Inc | 3.02 |
**Disclosure**
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties for these preliminary results within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
**Public Comment**
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii), we have modified the deadline for interested parties to submit case briefs to Commerce to no later than 21 days after the date of publication of this notice. [^10] Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed no later than five days after the time limit for filing case briefs. [^11] Interested parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities. [^12]
[^10]*See* 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii).
[^11]*See* 19 CFR 351.309(d); *see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,* 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) ( *APO and Service Procedures* ).
[^12]*See* 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs. [^13] Further, we request that interested parties limit their public executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the public executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the public executive summary of each issue.
[^13] We use the term “issue” here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, filed electronically via ACCESS, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice in the *Federal Register* . Hearing requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to issues raised in the respective case briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a date and time to be determined. [^14] Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
[^14]*See* 19 CFR 351.310(d).
All submissions, including case and rebuttal briefs, as well as hearing requests, should be filed via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the established deadline. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). [^15]
[^15]*See APO and Service Final Rule.*
**Final Results of Review**
Unless otherwise extended, Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of issues raised in any written briefs, not later than 120 days after the date of publication of this notice in the *Federal Register**,* pursuant to 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(1).
**Assessment Rates**
Upon completion of the final results, in accordance with section 751(a)(2)(A) of the Act, Commerce shall determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise covered by this review. [^16] If a respondent's weighted-average dumping margin is not zero or *de minimis* ( *i.e.,* less than 0.50 percent) in the final results of this review, we intend to calculate importer-specific assessment rate for antidumping duties based on the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales to the total entered value of those same sales in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1). [^17] Where the respondent did not report entered values, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), Commerce will calculate importer/customer-specific assessment rates by dividing the amount of dumping for reviewed sales to the importer/customer by the total quantity of those sales. [^18] Commerce will calculate an estimated ad valorem importer/customer-specific assessment rate to determine whether the per-unit assessment rate is *de minimis;* however, Commerce will use the per-unit assessment rate where entered values were not reported. Where an importer/customer-specific ad valorem assessment rate is not zero or de minimis, Commerce will instruct CBP to collect the appropriate duties at the time of liquidation.
[^16]*See* 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
[^17]*See Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping Proceedings; Final Modification,* 77 FR 8101, 8103 (February 14, 2012).
[^18]*See* 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
If either the respondent's weighted-average dumping margin or an importer-specific assessment rate is zero or *de minimis* in the final results of this review, we intend to instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties. [^19]
[^19]*Id.,* 77 FR at 8102-03; *see also* 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2).
In accordance with Commerce's “automatic assessment” practice, for entries of subject merchandise during the POR produced by TAK for which it did not know that the merchandise was destined for the United States, we will instruct CBP to liquidate those entries at the all-others rate established in the original less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation ( *i.e.,* 16.27 percent) if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction. [^20]
[^20] For a full discussion of this practice, *see Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties,* 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).
The final results of this administrative review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. [^21] Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the *Federal Register* . If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( *i.e.,* within 90 days of publication).
[^21]*See* section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act.
**Cash Deposit Requirements**
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon publication in the *Federal Register* of the notice of the final results of this administrative review for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit rate for the company listed above will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margin established in the final results of this review, except if the rate is less than 0.50 percent and, therefore, *de minimis* within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1), in which case the cash deposit rate will be zero; (2) for merchandise exported by companies not covered in this review but covered in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published in the most recently-completed segment of this proceeding; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the LTFV investigation, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be the rate established in the completed segment for the most recently completed segment for the producer of the merchandise; (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or exporters will continue to be 16.27 percent, the all-others rate established in the LTFV investigation. [^22] These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.
[^22]*See Order.*
**Notification to Importers**
This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.
**Notification to Interested Parties**
We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act,19 CFR 351.213(h)(2) and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: February 5, 2026.
Christopher Abbott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
**Appendix**
**List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum**
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the *Order*
IV. Discussion of the Methodology
V. Recommendation