Ventures and Variable Interest Entities (Schedule of Variable Interest Entities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 490	$ 576	$ 501	$ 638
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		1,205	986
Nontrade Receivables, Current		271	244
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2018: $100; 2017: $90)		3,801	3,762
Accumulated depreciation		2,686	2,584
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2018: $3; 2017: $2)		336	301
Accumulated amortization		609	591
Other assets		369	338
Total assets		9,780	9,538
Trade payables		797	807
Other liabilities		1,602	1,559
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		4
Deferred income taxes		219	211
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		18	19
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		5	5
Nontrade Receivables, Current		1	0
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2018: $100; 2017: $90)		689	697
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2018: $3; 2017: $2)		25	25
Other assets		7	6
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2018: $100; 2017: $90)		49	53
Trade payables		33	25
Current installments of long-term debt		13	18
Long-term debt		74	76
Total liabilities		120	119
Maximum exposure to loss		165	164
Fairway Methanol LLC [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		18	19
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates		9	9
Nontrade Receivables, Current		1	0
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2018: $100; 2017: $90)		689	697
Accumulated depreciation		100	90
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization - 2018: $3; 2017: $2)		25	25
Accumulated amortization		3	2
Other assets		7	6
Total assets	[1]	749	756
Trade payables		7	16
Other liabilities	[2]	5	4
Long-term debt		5	5
Deferred income taxes		3	3
Total liabilities		20	28
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		3
Plant/Office Closures [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		2	2
Plant/Office Closures [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Restructuring reserves (Note 14)		$ 2	$ 2

[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.