For Immediate Release: July 1, 2008
Contact: Brittany Eck (202) 482-3809
COMMERCE FINDS UNFAIR DUMPING AND SUBSIDIZATION OF SODIUM NITRITE
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced its affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of sodium nitrite from the People’s Republic of China (AD/CVD) and Germany (AD). Sodium nitrite can be used as a diesel fuel additive, a “volatile corrosion inhibitor,” in the manufacture of dyes and synthetic rubbers, in wastewater treatment, and in the curing of meats. The petitioner for these investigations is General Chemical Performance Products LLC from Parsippany, N.J.
“Foreign competitors that undervalue their goods in the United States or receive government subsidies undercut American competitiveness in the global marketplace,” said Assistant Secretary for Import Administration David Spooner. “Commerce commonly investigates both dumping and subsidy claims on a case-by-case basis, and will continue to take appropriate remedies based on the facts presented to enforce America’s trade remedy laws.”
Commerce determined that Chinese exporters have sold sodium nitrite in the United States at 190.74 percent less than normal value, and received countervailable subsidies of 169.01 percent. In the AD investigation, Chinese mandatory respondents, Qingdao Hengyuan Chemical Co., Ltd., and Hualong Ammonium Nitrate Company, Ltd., did not cooperate and received a final antidumping rate of 190.74 percent based on adverse facts available. All other Chinese exporters received the China-wide rate of 190.74 percent.
In the CVD investigation, neither Chinese mandatory respondent (Qingdao Hengyuan Chemical Co., Ltd., and Hualong Ammonium Nitrate Company, Ltd.) cooperated, and received a final countervailable rate of 169.01 percent based on adverse facts available. All other Chinese exporters received the China-wide rate of 169.01 percent.
Commerce also determined that German exporters have sold sodium nitrite in the United States at less than normal value. BASF AG did not cooperate in the investigation, and received a final antidumping rate of 237.00 percent based on adverse facts available. The all-others antidumping rate of 150.82 percent will be applied to all other German exporters.
As a result of these final determinations, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to continue to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the final rates. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to issue its final injury determination in these investigations on or before Aug. 14, 2008. If the ITC determines that imports from China or Germany are injuring, or threaten injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue AD and CVD orders. If the ITC makes negative injury determinations, these investigations will be terminated.
Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than normal value. Subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit the production, manufacture, or exportation of goods.
For more information about Import Administration or for the fact sheet on today’s decisions, please visit www.trade.gov/ia.
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