The U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated antidumping investigations of corrugated die-cut cardboard boxes from China, Malaysia and Türkiye, along with a countervailing duty investigation covering the Turkish merchandise. Commerce initiated the investigations on October 19, 2026, following petitions filed September 9, 2026.
The cases focus on food service boxes, especially pizza boxes, and could eventually impose substantial cash-deposit requirements on importers of those products.
Alleged Dumping Margins
The petitioners allege the following dumping margins:
- China: 97.71% to 297.26% (the range varies with the surrogate country Commerce uses to value Chinese production costs)
- Malaysia: 83.72% to 116.58%
- Türkiye: 51.27% to 92.81%
Commerce also initiated a countervailing duty investigation after finding sufficient allegations that Turkish producers receive subsidies above the applicable de minimis level.
These figures are allegations submitted at the beginning of the investigations. They are not current duty rates or final determinations.
Which Products Are Under Investigation?
The investigations cover corrugated die-cut boxes for food service, including pizza boxes, and die-cut blanks. Covered boxes may be finished or unfinished and assembled or unassembled, and they are typically imported flat. Under the written scope, covered boxes:
- Are made of corrugated cardboard, recycled or virgin, bleached or unbleached
- Have a nominal flute height of 1.1 to 4.4 millimeters (B, C, D and E flute or equivalent)
- Measure at least 5 inches and no more than 40 inches in length and width, and no more than 4 inches in height, when assembled
- May be any shape, including square, rectangular, round, hexagonal or octagonal
- Are covered whether printed or blank, and whether or not coated or lined, including grease-resistant coatings
Boxes processed in a third country remain covered. The written scope lists no express exclusions.
The petition was filed by the American Pizza Boxes Manufacturers Coalition, whose members are Smurfit Westrock and Pratt Industries, and the United Steelworkers.
Commerce identified HTSUS subheading 4819.10.0020 for customs purposes. However, that provision may include merchandise that is not subject to the investigations.
Importers should rely on the written scope rather than the HTSUS number alone. The deciding factors are the box’s construction, flute height, dimensions and food service use, not its commercial name. A product sold as a bakery, sandwich or takeout box could be covered if it meets the scope description, while a larger or deeper box would fall outside it.
Key Investigation Dates
The International Trade Commission has scheduled its preliminary vote for October 30, 2026. Its statutory deadline for the preliminary injury determinations is on or around November 13, 2026.
If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication of material injury or threat of injury, Commerce is currently scheduled to issue:
- Its preliminary CVD determination for Türkiye on December 24, 2026
- Its preliminary AD determinations on March 9, 2027
The statutory deadlines may be extended.
The case numbers are:
- China AD: A-570-242
- Malaysia AD: A-557-838
- Türkiye AD: A-489-860
- Türkiye CVD: C-489-861
- ITC investigations: 701-TA-806 and 731-TA-1805-1807 (Preliminary)
Broader Implications for Packaging Supply Chains
The import values Commerce reported are modest compared with major trade cases. Türkiye is the largest source, at about $35.2 million in 2025 under HTSUS 4819.10.0020, followed by China at about $8.4 million and Malaysia at about $5.9 million. Türkiye’s shipments have more than tripled since 2023, and Malaysia’s rose from almost nothing to nearly $6 million in two years.
Potentially affected businesses include:
- Pizza and foodservice companies
- Restaurants and franchise systems
- Grocery and convenience retailers with prepared food programs
- Packaging distributors
- Food manufacturers
- Private-label suppliers
- Companies importing empty, printed or customized boxes
Companies importing subject boxes directly face the clearest potential duty exposure. Businesses purchasing imported packaging from U.S. distributors may experience price increases or supplier changes even when they are not the importer of record.
The investigations generally concern imported boxes themselves. Companies importing merchandise already packed in corrugated boxes should not assume that the packaging makes the entire shipment subject to the investigation. However, foreign suppliers could experience higher packaging costs or sourcing changes.
What Importers Should Do Now
Importers and packaging buyers should:
- Identify corrugated die-cut boxes sourced from China, Malaysia and Türkiye.
- Compare technical specifications with the written scope.
- Confirm the producer and exporter associated with each shipment.
- Review open purchase orders and anticipated entry dates.
- Model landed costs under multiple potential deposit scenarios.
- Review contracts for responsibility for AD/CVD deposits and government-imposed charges.
- Evaluate alternative suppliers and domestic sourcing options.
- Monitor the ITC’s preliminary injury determinations.
Importers should also confirm customs-bond sufficiency if preliminary deposits are ultimately imposed.
For additional information, review Commerce’s investigation summary, alleged margins and schedule.
ASK Alba™ Contact the Alba team for assistance evaluating scope, classification, supplier documentation and potential duty exposure. Subscribe to the ASK Alba™ Trade Brief for updates on trade-remedy investigations and changing import costs.
References
- U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration: Initiation of AD/CVD Investigations of Corrugated Die-Cut Cardboard Boxes from the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, and the Republic of Türkiye
- Federal Register: Certain Corrugated Die-Cut Cardboard Boxes From the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, and the Republic of Türkiye; Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations (91 FR 67276, October 26, 2026)
- Federal Register: Notice of Extension of the Deadline for Determining the Adequacy of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions (91 FR 62690, October 2, 2026)
- Federal Register: Corrugated Die-Cut Cardboard Boxes From China, Malaysia, and Turkey; Revised Schedule for the Subject Investigations (U.S. International Trade Commission, October 8, 2026)
- U.S. International Trade Commission: Notational Vote, Corrugated Die-Cut Cardboard Boxes from China, Malaysia, and Turkey (October 30, 2026)
