US opens anti-dumping case on Norwegian dissolving pulp
The U.S. Department of Commerce has issued a preliminary affirmative determination that high-purity dissolving pulp from Norway is being sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The investigation covers the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. This is the opening phase of a formal anti-dumping duty case; Commerce will issue a final determination after the comment period and further investigation, and any duties imposed will apply retroactively to the preliminary determination date.
Photo: Barnabas Davoti / PexelsOn May 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a preliminary affirmative determination that high-purity dissolving pulp from Norway is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV).
The investigation covers the period of investigation (POI) from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. This preliminary determination triggers the standard anti-dumping duty process: Commerce will collect comments from interested parties, conduct further investigation, and issue a final determination within the statutory timeline. If the final determination is affirmative, the International Trade Commission (ITC) will then determine whether the U.S. industry has suffered material injury or threat thereof due to the LTFV imports.
High-purity dissolving pulp (HS code 4704.20) is a specialized chemical cellulose used in textile fibers, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals. Norwegian producers are significant suppliers to the U.S. market. The preliminary LTFV finding means Commerce has gathered sufficient evidence that prices charged by Norwegian exporters to U.S. customers fall below the comparable home-market or third-country prices (or below cost), adjusted for differences in circumstances of sale.
Interested parties—including importers, U.S. producers, and foreign exporters—are invited to submit comments on the preliminary determination. These comments may address the scope of the investigation, the calculation methodology, export prices, normal values, and any arguments for revocation or other relief.
Provisional measures (such as preliminary duties or bonds) may be imposed pending the final determination, depending on the strength of the preliminary case and any statutory extensions granted.
What this means for shippers
Importers and freight forwarders handling dissolving pulp from Norway must immediately review their outstanding purchase orders and in-transit inventory. A final affirmative determination could result in retroactive anti-dumping duties applied back to the preliminary determination date (May 27, 2026). File comments with Commerce before the deadline if your supply chain or landed cost will be materially affected—silence now means no opportunity to challenge the methodology later. Check HS code 4704.20 classifications on all pulp shipments and reconcile duties owed once the final rate is published.
