WASHINGTON — The American Hydrofluorocarbon Coalition, a group of refrigerant suppliers, has filed an antidumping duty petition charging that unfairly traded imports of certain HFC blends and components from China are causing material injury to the U.S. domestic fluoro-chemicals industry. The petition was filed concurrently with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission. The coalition alleges dumping margins for the various HFC blends and components ranging from 100 percent to over 300 percent.

American Hydrofluorocarbon Coalition members include Arkema, Chemours, Honeywell International, Hudson Technologies, Worthington Industries, and Mexichem Fluor.

The coalition said the petition was filed in response to large and increasing volumes of low-priced imports from China. Imports from China have increased by 60 percent from 2012 to 2014, and continue to increase. As a result, U.S. suppliers are losing market share and prices are rapidly falling.

According to the coalition, Chinese producers have injured the U.S. industry by selling the refrigerants at unfairly low prices that consistently undercut the prices of U.S. producers. This has had a direct negative impact on U.S. producer revenues and profitability. Low-priced imports from China have been and continue to capture increasing shares of the U.S. market at the direct expense of the U.S. industry.

The petition seeks the imposition of antidumping duties to level the playing field. The action is expected to take nine to 13 months to complete, with a preliminary determination imposing antidumping duty deposits within approximately six months.

The American Hydrofluorocarbon Coalition believes this action is essential to improving the economics of the U.S. industry and to allow for future reinvestment and growth. The coalition has retained the law firm of Cassidy Levy Kent (USA) LLP to represent the U.S. industry before the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission.

Publication date: 6/29/2015

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