WASHINGTON — The latest skirmish concerning possible illegal refrigerants coming into the United States involves HFC-134a from China.

A petition has been filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce in which Louisiana-based Mexichem Fluor has asked the government to impose sanctions on the imports.

“The massive Chinese overcapacity, Chinese government subsidies, and Chinese underselling, combined with the U.S. industry’s need to operate at high utilization levels, makes the domestic industry quite vulnerable to a real and imminent threat of injury,” said Mexichem in its petition.

As part of the ongoing process, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will determine whether the U.S. industry is being materially injured or threatened with material injury. A preliminary determination in this regard could come as early as Dec. 6. If it is ascertained that proceedings should continue, final determination may not come until October 2014.

Publication date: 11/25/2013

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