PTMEG imports from China, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam are now classifiable under HTSUS 3907.29.0000, with alternate classifications under 2932.11.0000 and 3404.90.5150—a correction Commerce published on May 14, 2026, to fix a typographical error in the original investigation scope from May 5, 2026 (91 FR 24162).
The correction applies to four active Less-Than-Fair-Value (LTFV) investigations on polytetramethylene ether glycol, each tracked under a distinct case number: A-570-227 (China), A-580-922 (Korea), A-583-882 (Taiwan), and A-552-855 (Vietnam). The International Trade Administration's Enforcement and Compliance division issued the correction notice as FR Doc No: 2026-09711, signed by Christopher Abbott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations.
Why the HTS Correction Matters for Classification Systems
The original initiation notice contained an error in the third HTSUS subheading listed in the scope appendix. Commerce's correction confirms that 3404.90.5150 is a valid alternate classification for subject merchandise. For compliance engineering teams maintaining tariff databases, this correction means any logic mapping PTMEG to HTS codes must account for all three subheadings—not just the primary classification under 3907.29.0000.
The written scope description remains dispositive, meaning automated classification systems cannot rely solely on HTS codes. PTMEG blends containing stabilizers like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), higher molecular weight hindered phenols, or phosphoric acid are covered, provided those additives collectively account for no more than two percent of total weight.
Scope Definition: What's Covered
The investigations cover polytetramethylene ether glycol—a polymer consisting of linear diols with repeating tetramethylene units interconnected through ether bonds. The chemical formula is HO{(CH₂)₄}ₙOH. Commerce notes PTMEG is also marketed as Polytetrahydrofuran, PTHF, PTMG, and Polybutylene glycol.
Subject merchandise includes PTMEG blended with modifiers such as phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid, in addition to stabilizers. The two-percent-by-weight threshold for non-PTMEG components determines whether a blend falls within scope.
Timeline and Documentation
The original LTFV initiation published May 5, 2026. Commerce dated the correction May 11, 2026, with Federal Register publication on May 14, 2026 (Volume 91, Issue 93, Pages 27266-27267). The correction was issued under sections 732 and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).
Trade compliance teams should update internal documentation to reflect the corrected HTS subheadings and verify that any cached tariff data reflects the May 14 correction. The CAS registry number referenced in the scope is provided for convenience only—the written description governs classification disputes.