Certain Paper Plates

The merchandise subject to this investigation is certain paper plates. Paper plates subject to this investigation may be cut from rolls, sheets, or other pieces of paper and/or paper board. Paper plates subject to this investigation have a depth up to and including two (2.0) inches, as measured vertically from the base to the top of the lip, or the edge if the plate has no lip. Paper plates subject to this investigation may be uncolored, white, colored, or printed. Printed paper plates subject to this investigation may have any type of surface finish, and may be printed by any means with images, text and/or colors on one or both surfaces. Colored paper plates subject to this investigation may be colored by any method, including but not limited to printing, beater-dyeing, and dip-dyeing. Paper plates subject to this investigation may be produced from paper of any type (including, but not limited to, bamboo, straws, bagasse, hemp, kenaf, jute, sisal, abaca, cotton inters and reeds, or from non-plant sources, such as synthetic resin (petroleum)-based resins), may have any caliper or basis weight, may have any shape or size, may have one or more than one section, may be embossed, may have foil or other substances adhered to their surface, and/or may be uncoated or coated with any type of coating. The paper plates subject to this investigation remain covered by the scope of this investigation whether imported alone, or in any combination of subject and non-subject merchandise. When paper plates subject to this investigation are imported in combination with non-subject merchandise, only the paper plates subject to this investigation are subject merchandise. The paper plates subject to this investigation include paper plates matching the above description that have been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in a third country by performing finishing, packaging, or processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the paper plates. Examples of finishing, packaging, or other processing in a third country that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the paper plates include, but are not limited to, printing, application of other surface treatments such as coatings, repackaging, embossing, and application of foil surface treatments. Excluded from the scope of this investigation are paper plates molded or pressed directly from paper pulp (including but not limited to unfelted pulp), which are currently classifiable under subheading 4823.70.0020 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are articles that otherwise would be covered but which exhibit the following two physical characteristics: (a) depth (measured vertically from the base to the top of the lip, or edge if no lip) equal to or greater than 1.25 inches but less than two (2.0) inches, and (b) a base not exceeding five (5.0) inches in diameter if round, or not exceeding 20 square inches in area if any other shape. Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are paper bowls, paper buckets, and paper food containers with closeable lids. Paper plates subject to this investigation are currently classifiable under HTSUS subheading 4823.69.0040. Paper plates subject to this investigation also may be classified under HTSUS subheading 4823.61.0040. If packaged with other articles, the paper plates subject to this investigation also may be classified under HTSUS subheadings 9505.90.4000 and 9505.90.6000. While the HTSUS subheading(s) are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive.