The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of purified carboxymethylcellulose from Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Marcia E. Miller, Jennifer A. Hillman, and Charlotte R. Lane voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Daniel R. Pearson voted in the negative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the Department of Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of purified carboxymethylcellulose from Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

The Commission's public report Purified Carboxymethylcellulose from Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1084-1087 (Final), USITC Publication 3787, June 2005) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after July 7, 2005, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The product covered is purified carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). CMC is a white to off-white, non-toxic, odorless, biodegradable powder that has been refined and purified to a minimum assay of 90 percent. CMC is a water-soluble polymer, soluble in either hot or cold water. Applications for CMC span a wide range of functions, products, and industries. CMC is used as a thickening agent, stabilizer, adhesion promoter, and binder. CMC appears in such varied products as foods, personal care products such as toothpaste and denture adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and oilfield drilling muds. The imported merchandise subject to these investigations is provided for in subheading 3912.31.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigations:  Final antidumping.
2. Petitioner:  Aqualon Company, a division of Hercules, Incorporated, Wilmington, DE.
3. Investigations instituted by USITC:  June 9, 2004.
4. Hearing:  May 12, 2005.
5. USITC vote:  June 16, 2005.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce:  June 30, 2005. 

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. firms involved in production of CMC in 2004:  One.(1)
2. Production volume is located in Hopewell, VA.
3. Employment of production and related workers: (2)  
4. U.S. producers' shipments in 2004:  (2)
5. U.S. apparent consumption in 2004:  (2)
6. Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 2004:  (2)

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports in 2004:  (2)
2. Value of subject imports in 2004:  (2)

(1) The sole U.S. producer of CMC is the petitioner, Aqualon Company, a division of Hercules, Incorported, Wilmington, DE.
(2) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.