Trump trade crackdown hits cheap food containers from China, Vietnam with massive new duties

By Fox News · Fox News

The Trump administration is dropping the hammer on cheap imports of disposable food containers from China and Vietnam, announcing massive trade penalties that experts say will lead to safer products while simultaneously protecting U.S. companies from unfair competition. "America continues to thrive when fair competition occurs," attorney Yohai Baisburd of Cassidy Levy Kent, counsel to the American Molded Fiber Coalition, told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "The Trump Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to enforce U.S. trade laws and cheaters beware because they are coming after you." Baisburd, whose legal background focuses on trade litigation, was reacting to the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announcing recently that its board voted to rule that U.S. industry is materially injured by importing "thermoformed molded fiber products from China and Vietnam." Baisburd argued on behalf of U.S. companies as the International Trade Commission considered the case. Thermoformed molded fiber products are common food containers — including disposable bowls, plates, cups and containers for ready to make meals or take-out containers — made from natural fibers and recycled products, such as wood pulp. The fibers are turned to pulp before they're molded, and then shaped using heat and pressure. CBP ANNOUNCES RECORD-BREAKING $200 BILLION IN TARIFF REVENUE AMID TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT PUSH The U.S. market has been flooded with such products from China and Vietnam, with the nations "dumping" the containers at unfairly low prices that affect American businesses, according to the United States International Trade Commission. Following the vote from the ITC, the Commerce Department will issue final antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) duty orders on those imports from China and Vietnam. Antidumping and countervailing duties are special trade penalties — in addition to typical tariffs — that the U.S. imposes on imports found to be unfairly underpriced i…