Argentina announces anti-dumping decision on China’s HFC refrigerants 10-04-2020

On August 19, 2020, the Argentinian authorities announced an anti-dumping resolution on the imports of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants from China. According to the final determination, a 7% anti-dumping tax of FOB price will be imposed on the Chinese refrigerants containing HFC-134a and HFC-125 ,and 23% anti-dumping tax of FOB price will be imposed on the Chinese refrigerants containing HFC-32 and HFC-125. The products subject to investigation are classified under the following HS codes: 3824.78.10 and 3824.78.90. The anti-dumping determination will take effect from the day the decision is announced and will be valid for a duration of five years.


On February 25, 2019, the Argentinian authorities initiated an anti-dumping investigation on imports of HFC refrigerants from China. The investigation lasted from February 2018 to January 2019, and the injury investigation duration was from January 2016 to January 2019. On August 5, 2019, the Argentinian authorities made a preliminary resolution on imports of HFC refrigerants from China. According to the preliminary resolution, the HFC refrigerants from China were still under investigation, but a provisional anti-dumping duty was not imposed during that time.


US conducts anti-circumvention resolution on China’s HFC refrigerants

On August 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an anti-circumvention final resolution on imports involving refrigerants with HFC solutions from China. However, according to the final resolution, Chinese HFC refrigerants that contain R-32, R-125 and R143a should not be included on the list of products subject to an anti-dumping duty. The products subject to investigation are classified under the following HS codes: 3824.78.0020 and 3824.78.0050.


On July 16, 2015, the U.S. Department of Commerce decided to initiate an anti-dumping investigation on the imports of HFC refrigerants from China, and the products subject to investigation are 3824.78.0000 and 2903.39.2030. On June 22, 2016, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an anti-dumping final resolution on Chinese HFC refrigerants. On June 18, 2019, with the application of the American HFC Coalition, the U.S. Department of Commerce decided to initiate an anti-circumvention investigation on the imports of HFC refrigerants from China. On April 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an anti-circumvention final resolution on the HFC refrigerants from China.


China retaliates with anti-dumping investigation against USA-produced PVC

On September 25, 2020, the Ministry of Commerce of China announced an anti-dumping investigation on the imports of PVC from the US. According to the investigation plan, the investigation will be completed by September 25, 2021, but the investigation may extend to March 25, 2022 under special circumstances.


Data shows that this is the third foreign trade investigation initiated by China’s Ministry of Commerce on products from the US. The first two investigations were the anti-subsidy investigations. The products subject to the first investigation on September 14, 2020 were certain monoalkyl ethers of ethylene glycol, as well as propylene glycol (also called certain glycol ether), with respective HS codes of 29094400 and 29094990. The product subject to the second investigation on August 14, 2020 was polyphenylene ether (also called polyphenylene oxide, PPE, or PPO), with HS code 39072090.


The product subject to the anti-dumping investigation this time is polyvinyl chloride, which is known as PVC. PVC has currently been one of the most widely produced common plastic materials in the world. PVC is an essential primary chemical product and is widely used in many areas.


PVC is not only commonly used in plastic products but also used in architectural materials, industrial products, sealing materials as well as high-strength fiber products. In fact, this is the second anti-dumping investigation on PVC products from the US. The first anti-dumping investigation on PVC products from the US was in September 2003.


For more information on China’s HFC market, please check our China Fluoride Materials Monthly Report.

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