February 25, 2021
News Release 21-028
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-662 and 731-TA-1554 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigations Concerning Pentafluoroethane (R-125) 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 pentafluoroethane (R-125) from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

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

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of pentafluoroethane (R-125) from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about April 7, 2021, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about June 21, 2021.

The Commission’s public report Pentafluoroethane (R-125) from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-662 and 731-TA-1554 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5170, March 2021) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after March 29, 2021; 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

Pentafluoroethane (R-125) from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-662 and 731-TA-1554 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  R‐125 (pentafluoroethane) is a colorless, odorless gas with a chemical formula of C2HF5. R-125, a hydrofluorocarbon ("HFC"), does not deplete the ozone layer, and is non‐flammable and non‐toxic. R‐125 is used primarily as a component in HFC blends, which are used in residential and commercial refrigerant and cooling applications. It is also used as a fire extinguishing agent and for semiconductor plasma etching. R‐125 is the most common component used in refrigerant blends, primarily because it is non-flammable. It does not have sufficient heat transfer capacity or other thermal properties for it to be used as a standalone refrigerant.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations.
2.   Petitioner:  Honeywell International, Inc.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
4.   USITC Conference Date:  Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, February 25, 2021.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Friday, February 26, 2021.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  1.
2.   Location of producer’s plants:  Louisiana.
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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