Antidumping duty order on hard empty capsules from the People's Republic of China (A-570-184)

1. On 02/23/2026, Commerce published in the Federal Register its antidumping duty order on hard empty capsules from the People's Republic of China (91 FR 8433). 2. The merchandise covered by this order is hard empty capsules, which are comprised of two prefabricated, hollowed cylindrical sections (cap and body). The cap and body pieces each have one closed and rounded end and one open end, and are constructed with different or equal diameters at their open ends. Hard empty capsules are unfilled cylindrical shells composed of at least 80 percent by weight of a water soluble polymer that is considered non-toxic and appropriate for human or animal consumption by the United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary (USP-NF), Food Chemical Codex (FCC), or equivalent standards. The most common polymer materials in hard empty capsules are gelatin derived from animal collagen (including, but not limited to, pig, cow, or fish collagen), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and pullulan. Hard empty capsules may also contain water and additives, such as opacifiers, colorants, processing aids, controlled release agents, plasticizers, and preservatives. Hard empty capsules may also be imprinted or otherwise decorated with markings. Hard empty capsules are covered by the scope of these orders regardless of polymer material, additives, transparency, opacity, color, imprinting, or other markings. Hard empty capsules are also covered by the scope of these orders regardless of their size, weight, length, diameter, thickness, and filling capacity. Cap and body pieces of hard empty capsules are covered by the scope of these orders regardless of whether they are imported together or separately, and regardless of whether they are imported in attached or detached form. Hard empty capsules covered by the scope of these orders are those that disintegrate in water, simulated intestinal fluid, simulated gastric fluid, or other similar water-based (i.e., aqueous) fluids within 2 hours under tests specified in Chapter 701 of the USP-NF, or equivalent disintegration tests. Hard empty capsules are classifiable under subheadings 9602.00.1040 and 9602.00.5010 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). In addition, hard empty capsules may be imported under HTSUS subheading 1905.90.9090; gelatin hard empty capsules may be imported under HTSUS subheading 3503.00.5510; HPMC hard empty capsules may be imported under HTSUS subheading 3923.90.0080; and pullulan hard empty capsules may be imported under HTSUS subheading 2106.90.9998. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise covered by these orders is dispositive. 3. For imports of hard empty capsules from the People's Republic of China, CBP shall suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 02/17/2026 (the date on which the International Trade Commission published its final determination in the Federal Register). Effective 02/17/2026, CBP shall require a cash deposit equal to the percentages for the exporter/producer combinations identified below. Exporter: China-Wide Entity Case number: A-570-184-000 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Shandong Healsee Capsule Ltd. Producer: Shandong Healsee Capsule Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-001 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Guizhou Guang De Li Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Producer: Guizhou Guang De Li Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-003 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Hebei Kangxin Plant Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Hebei Kangxin Plant Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-004 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Hubei Kornnac Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Producer: Hubei Kornnac Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-005 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Jiangsu Lefan Capsule Co., Ltd Producer: Jiangsu Lefan Capsule Co., Ltd Case number: A-570-184-006 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Jiujiang Angtai Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Jiujiang Angtai Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-007 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Qingdao Yiqing Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Producer: Qingdao Yiqing Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-008 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Shaanxi Genex Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. Producer: Shaanxi Genex Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-009 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Shanghai Guang De Li Capsule Co., Ltd Producer: Shanghai Guang De Li Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-010 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Shanxi Guangsheng Medicinal Capsule Co., Ltd.; Shanxi Guangsheng Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Shanxi Guangsheng Medicinal Capsule Co., Ltd.; Shanxi Guangsheng Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-011 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Shaoxing Kangke Capsule Co., Ltd Producer: Shaoxing Kangke Capsule Co., Ltd Case number: A-570-184-012 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Shaoxing Renhe Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Shaoxing Renhe Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-013 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Xinchang County Hexin Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Xinchang County Hexin Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-014 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Xinchang Paulo Import And Export Co., Ltd. Producer: Xinchang County No.6 Capsule Factory Case number: A-570-184-015 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Xinchang Paulo Import And Export Co., Ltd. Producer: Shaoxing Kangke Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-016 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Xinchang Paulo Import And Export Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Huaguang Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-017 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Xinchang Paulo Import And Export Co., Ltd. Producer: Shanxi Guangsheng Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-018 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Xinchang Paulo Import And Export Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Pujiang Enerkang Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-019 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Yantai Oriental Pharmacap Co., Ltd Producer: Yantai Oriental Pharmacap Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-020 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Capsulcn Machinery Co., Ltd Producer: Ningbo Capsulcn Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-021 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Capsulcn Machinery Co., Ltd. Producer: Shaoxing Zhongya Capsules Industry Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-022 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Capsulcn Machinery Co., Ltd. Producer: Shandong Healsee Capsule Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-023 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Capsulcn Machinery Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Guangjuyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-024 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Capsulcn Machinery Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Huaguang Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-025 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Huaguang Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Huaguang Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-026 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Huili Capsules Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Huili Capsules Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-027 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value Exporter: Zhejiang Lujian Capsule Co., Ltd. Producer: Zhejiang Lujian Capsule Co., Ltd. Case number: A-570-184-028 Cash deposit rate: 18.71% of entered value 4. Commerce found a zero or de minimis dumping margin for imports of subject merchandise for the exporter/producer combination identified below. Accordingly, CBP should discontinue suspension of liquidation of imports of shipments, and discontinue collecting cash deposits, from the exporter/producer combination that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 12/29/2025 (the date of publication of final determination in the Federal Register). Commerce will issue separate liquidation instructions for entries made prior to the date of publication of the final determination. Producer: Shanxi JC Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Exporter: Shanxi JC Biological Technology Co., Ltd. Case Number: A-570-184-002 This exclusion from suspension of liquidation does not apply to entries of merchandise: (i) exported by Shanxi JC Biological Technology Co., Ltd and produced by any company other than Shanxi JC Biological Technology Co., Ltd, (ii) produced by Shanxi JC Biological Technology Co., Ltd and exported by any company other than Shanxi JC Biological Technology Co., Ltd, or (iii) exported by a company that sourced from this excluded combination. Accordingly, such merchandise should be entered under the case number and cash deposit rate for the appropriate exporter/producer combination (or the country-wide entity) under the sub-paragraph above. 5. For all other entries of subject merchandise, the following cash deposit instructions apply: A. For all People's Republic of China exporters of subject merchandise which have not received their own exporter/producer combination rate, the cash deposit rate will be the China-Wide entity rate. B. For all non-People's Republic of China exporters of subject merchandise which have not received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the exporter/producer combinations that supplied that non-China exporter, or, if the exporter/producer combinations do not have their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the China-wide rate. 6. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OII:JX) 7. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur