The Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA) has reached a preliminary determination that 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane from China is being sold at below fair value in the US and calculated countervailing duties.
Mexichem Fluor, which markets the refrigerant under the registered trade name Klea, requested the antidumping / countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigations last October. [See ITC Weighs Inquiry into Dumping] At the time, we posted a line graph based on US import data through first-half 2013 that showed volumes and values of shipments from China on divergent paths, with volumes up and prices down. Updated with second-half 2013, the graph now shows volume dropping (by 31% between 1H13 and 2H13) while price continues to slip (by 19% between halves). Still, China is the source for 93% of US imports of this refrigerant compared to its 72% share of what was then a new import in 2009.
Here are the ITA’s preliminary dumping margins:
As a result of the preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposit based on these rates.
The ITC’s final determination will be released in November. Documents in the case are available on IA Access (registration required); refer to case numbers A-570-998 and C-570-999.
You might also be interested in: