North American Rubber Thread.

* A petition filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission by North American Rubber Thread, Fall River, Mass., has triggered an antidumping investigation of the extruded rubber thread industry. The claim alleges that industry in the United States has been materially injured due to imports from Malaysia of extruded rubber thread which has allegedly been subsidized by the government of Malaysia and sold in the United States at less than fair value. Data obtained from preliminary countervailing duty and antidumping investigations shows "reasonable indication that the domestic industry is materially injured. Virtually every indicator demonstrates that the condition of the domestic industry has deteriorated significantly during the period of investigation." The petitioner claims that a range of Malaysian government programs has unfairly aided Malaysian producers/exporters of extruded rubber thread. Various government-supported production and export schemes allegedly include an investment tax allowance, tax abatements and other allowances, free trade zones, export credit refinancing, rubber discounts and other incentives. The investigation period is 1988-90. The Department of Commerce will make a preliminary antidumping determination by February 5, 1992.