Ventures and Variable Interest Entities (Schedule of Variable Interest Entities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 511	$ 638	$ 735	$ 967
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		985	801
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $70; 2016: $50)		3,663	3,577
Accumulated depreciation		2,419	2,239
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $2; 2016: $1)		302	194
Accumulated amortization		560	524
Other assets		311	307
Total assets		8,883	8,357
Trade payables		666	625
Other liabilities		1,424	1,077
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		29
Deferred income taxes		165	130
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		24	18
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		5	4
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $70; 2016: $50)		714	734
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $2; 2016: $1)		25	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: $70; 2016: $50)		56	60
Trade payables		29	53
Current installments of long-term debt		10	10
Long-term debt		87	91
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		21	0
Total liabilities		147	154
Maximum exposure to loss		203	240
Fairway Methanol LLC [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		24	18
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		10	8
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2017: $70; 2016: $50)		714	734
Accumulated depreciation		70	50
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2017: $2; 2016: $1)		25	26
Accumulated amortization		2	1
Other assets		8	9
Total assets	[1]	781	795
Trade payables		11	15
Other liabilities	[2]	2	2
Long-term debt		5	5
Deferred income taxes		3	2
Total liabilities		21	24
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		24
Plant/Office Closures [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		23	0
Plant/Office Closures [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		$ 23	$ 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.