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News Release 15-071
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1279 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of hydrofluorocarbon blends and components from China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigation on imports of these products from China, with its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about December 2, 2015.
The Commission’s public report Hydrofluorocarbon Blends and Components from China (Investigation No. 731-TA-1279 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4558, August 2015) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.
The report will be available after September 8, 2015. After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Hydrofluorocarbon Blends and Components from China
Investigation No. 731-TA-1279 (Preliminary)
Product Description: Hydrofluorocarbon blends and their hydrofluorocarbon components, whether or not the components are imported for blending, are organic chemical compounds containing only hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. HFC blends R-404a, R-407a, R-407c, R-410a, and R-507a are composed of two or three of the following HFC components: R-32, R-125, R-134a, and R-143a. Although it is a component in multiple blends, HFC component R-134a is specifically excluded from this investigation. The three component HFCs subject to this investigation are used primarily as inputs for the subject HFC blends but also have limited applications as fire suppressants (R‐125) and propellants (R‐143a). R‐32 was approved in February 2015 for self‐contained air conditioning systems in the U.S. market. The blends are used primarily for low- and medium-temperature refrigeration and air conditioning. The most common applications are residential air conditioning and heat pumps, commercial air conditioning, commercial refrigeration (e.g., walk-in coolers and supermarket display cases), transportation refrigeration, and process refrigeration (e.g., food processing and chemical manufacturing). As they were developed to replace a single refrigerant, R-22, in these low‐ and medium‐temperature conditions, the subject blends have considerable overlap in their applications.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Preliminary antidumping.
2. Petitioners: The American HFC Coalition and its members: Amtrol, Inc., West Warwick, RI; Arkema, Inc., King of Prussia, PA; The Chemours Company FC LLC, Wilmington, DE; Honeywell International Inc, Morristown, NJ; Hudson Technologies, Pearl River, NY; Mexichem Fluor Inc., St. Gabriel, LA; Worthington Industries, Inc., Columbus, OH; and District Lodge 154 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
3. Preliminary investigation instituted by the USITC: June 25, 2015.
4. Commission’s conference: July 16, 2015.
5. USITC vote: August 7, 2015.
6. USITC determination to the U.S. Department of Commerce: August 10, 2015.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: August 17, 2015.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2014: Four.
2. Location of producers’ plants: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Texas.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2014: [1]
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2014: 1
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2014: 1
U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject country during 2014: 1
2. From other countries during 2014: 1
3. Leading sources during 2014: 1
[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.