Ventures and Variable Interest Entities (Schedule of Variable Interest Entities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 501	$ 638	$ 716	$ 967
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		886	801
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $60; 2016: $50)		3,571	3,577
Accumulated depreciation		2,307	2,239
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $1; 2016: $1)		192	194
Accumulated amortization		531	524
Other assets		308	307
Total assets		8,288	8,357
Trade payables		615	625
Other liabilities		1,015	1,077
Restructuring reserves (Note 13)		34
Deferred income taxes		140	130
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		13	18
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		5	4
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $60; 2016: $50)		724	734
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $1; 2016: $1)		26	26
Other assets		8	9
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $60; 2016: $50)		58	60
Trade payables		38	53
Current installments of long-term debt		10	10
Long-term debt		88	91
Restructuring reserves (Note 13)		27	0
Total liabilities		163	154
Maximum exposure to loss		221	240
Fairway Methanol LLC [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		13	18
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		10	8
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $60; 2016: $50)		724	734
Accumulated depreciation		60	50
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $1; 2016: $1)		26	26
Accumulated amortization		1	1
Other assets		8	9
Total assets	[1]	781	795
Trade payables		7	15
Other liabilities	[2]	2	2
Long-term debt		5	5
Deferred income taxes		3	2
Total liabilities		17	24
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 13)		30
Plant/Office Closures [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 13)		29	0
Plant/Office Closures [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 13)		$ 29	$ 0

[1] Assets can only be used to settle the obligations of Fairway.

[2] Primarily represents amounts owed by Fairway to the Company for reimbursement of expenditures.