March 5, 2020
News Release 20-018
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1472 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigation Concerning Difluoromethane (R-32) from China

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 difluoromethane (R-32) from China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue with its antidumping duty investigation concerning imports of this product from China, with its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about July 2, 2020.

The Commission’s public report Difluoromethane (R-32) from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-1472 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5036, March 2020) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available after April 6, 2020; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Difluoromethane from China
Investigation No. 731‐TA‐1472 (Preliminary) 

Product Description:  R-32 is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), a colorless, odorless, gaseous chemical that is primarily used as a component in HFC blends. Once blended, these gases are used for various residential and commercial refrigerant and cooling applications. Apart from ‘R-32’, difluoromethane has other names, including HFC-32, FC-32, Freon-32, methylene difluoride, methylene fluoride, carbon fluoride hydride, halocarbon R32, fluorocarbon R32, and UN 3252. Compared to other HFC components, R-32 has a low global warming potential, no ozone depletion potential, and is a low-to-medium temperature refrigerant.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary phase antidumping duty investigation.
2.   Petitioner:  Arkema, Inc., PA.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Thursday, January 23, 2020.
4.   USITC Conference Date:  Thursday, February 13, 2020.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, March 5, 2020.
6.   USITC Views to Commerce:  Monday, March 16, 2020.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  1.
2.   Location of producer’s plants:  Kentucky.
3.   Production and related workers: [1]
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments: 1
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1

U.S. Imports in 2019:

1.   Subject imports:  1
2.   Nonsubject imports:  1
3.   Leading import sources:  China.

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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