New Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Corrugated Pizza Boxes from China, Malaysia, and Türkiye

At a Glance

• A coalition consisting of Smurfit Westrock plc and Pratt Industries, Inc., and the United Steelworkers Union filed antidumping petitions on corrugated pizza boxes from China, Malaysia, and the Republic of Türkiye, and a countervailing duty petition on corrugated pizza boxes from the Republic of Türkiye.
• Investigation related to these petitions could result in increased prices and/or decreased supply of corrugated pizza boxes.
• The US Department of Commerce is expected to begin investigation on September 29, 2026.

On September 29, 2026, antidumping (AD) and/or countervailing duty (CVD) petitions were filed on corrugated pizza boxes from China (AD only), Malaysia (AD only), and the Republic of Türkiye (AD & CVD). The petitions were filed by the American Pizza Box Manufacturers Coalition (consisting of Smurfit Westrock plc and Pratt Industries, Inc.) and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union.

The US AD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States at less than "normal value." The US CVD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States with the benefit of foreign government subsidies. For AD/CVD duties to be imposed, the US government must determine not only that dumping and/or subsidization is occurring, but also that there is "material injury" (or threat thereof) by reason of the dumped and/or subsidized imports. Importers are liable for any potential AD/CVD duties imposed. In addition, these investigations could impact purchasers by increasing prices and/or decreasing supply of corrugated pizza boxes.

Scope

Please note that this section was not written by our authors but is taken verbatim from the petition.

The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain corrugated food service boxes, which are commonly referred to as pizza boxes. Corrugated food service boxes are a type of box or carton manufactured from paper, paperboard, and/or cardboard for use in the food service industry, including to hold pizza pies. Corrugated food service boxes are often shipped or delivered flat in bundles of corrugated cardboard die-cut blanks, which are in a ready-to-assemble state such that they can be easily folded by the end user into a ready-to-use food service box. The corrugated food service boxes covered by this investigation include corrugated cardboard die-cut blanks, whether finished or unfinished and assembled or unassembled.

Corrugated food service boxes are produced from corrugated cardboard sheets that are made from recycled or virgin paper or paperboard materials, which may be bleached or unbleached. These cardboard sheets are "corrugated" or "fluted," which means that they contain at least two outer layers (i.e., top and bottom) of paper or paperboard and an inside layer of fluted paper or paperboard in between the outer layer, such that the inside layer contains channels or pockets of air which makes the cardboard sheet lightweight while retaining strength and durability. The subject merchandise includes corrugated food service boxes of B-flute, C-flute, D-flute, and E-flute design, as well as any equivalent types of corrugation or fluting.

The country of origin of a subject corrugated food service box is determined by where the corrugated cardboard sheet is produced.

Corrugated cardboard die-cut blanks are typically formed from corrugated cardboard sheets that are cut to length, die cut into specific box shapes, and/or scored to allow the box to be folded into shape. Subject corrugated food service boxes are typically assembled by the end user by folding a corrugated carboard die-cut blank into its final shape. Subject corrugated die-cut blanks are not typically glued into their final shape. The scope of this investigation covers both corrugated food service boxes and corrugated cardboard die-cut blanks, regardless of whether they are finished or assembled at the time of importation.

The subject merchandise includes corrugated food service boxes regardless of shape. When assembled, subject corrugated food service boxes are often rectangular or square in shape when viewed from above, but they may take on other shapes, such as round, hexagonal, or octagonal. A finished and assembled subject corrugated food service box has a length (i.e., the longest dimension) that is at least five inches and a width that is at least five inches. There is no maximum length or width for subject merchandise. The height (i.e., the shortest dimension) of a finished and assembled subject corrugated food service box is no greater than four inches.

The corrugated food service boxes covered by the scope of this investigation include merchandise with or without color or printing, such that they may be decorated with one or more graphical designs or logos, or they may be entered in a blank, unprinted state. A corrugated food service box is subject to this investigation regardless of the color of the paper, paperboard, or cardboard. Any graphical images may be printed directly onto the paper, paperboard, or cardboard or they may be overlaid onto the outer or inner faces of a corrugated food service box. Subject corrugated food service boxes are also covered by the scope regardless of whether or not they are coated or lined, including with any materials to increase grease resistance.

The subject merchandise includes corrugated food service boxes with or without ventilation holes or perforations as well as with or without features for holding condiments or other foods. Subject corrugated food service boxes are covered by the scope whether or not they are accompanied by other parts or materials. The addition of any non-paper, -paperboard, or -cardboard materials, such as liners, inserts, or holders, does not remove the subject corrugated food service box from the scope of this investigation.

The corrugated food service boxes subject to this investigation include those products that have been subjected to further processing in a third country, which includes but is not limited to printing, coating, trimming, cutting, punching, assembling, folding, and/or perforating or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope corrugated food service box.

The corrugated food service boxes subject to investigation order are typically classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheading 4819.10.0020. This HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes only, and the written description of the merchandise subject to the order is dispositive.

Estimated Dumping Margins

The petitioners allege the following dumping margins:

• China: 92.62% to 568.50%
• Malaysia: 110.73%
• Türkiye: 120.65% to 210.37%

The petitioners also allege subsidies with respect to subject imports from Türkiye, although the CVD petition does not quantify the alleged net subsidy margin.

Estimated Schedule of Investigations

The following is an estimated schedule of investigations by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC):