The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today made an affirmative final determination that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of creatine monohydrate from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, and Thelma J. Askey made an affirmative determination. Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun did not participate in this investigation.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will direct the U.S. Customs Service to impose antidumping duties on imports of creatine monohydrate from China.

The Commerce Department previously made an affirmative critical circumstances determination with respect to these imports. Therefore, the Commissioners who made an affirmative injury determination today are required to determine whether those imports are likely to undermine seriously the remedial effect of the antidumping duty order Commerce will issue. The Commission made a negative determination concerning critical circumstances with respect to these imports. As a result of the Commission's negative determination regarding critical circumstances, the antidumping duty order concerning these imports will not apply to goods that entered the United States prior to July 30, 1999, the date of publication in the Federal Register of the Department of Commerce's affirmative preliminary determination.

The Commission's public report Creatine Monohydrate from China (Investigation No. 731-TA- 814 (Final), USITC Publication 3272, January 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be obtained after February 16, 2000, 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: For purposes of this investigation, the product covered is commonly referred to as creatine monohydrate or creatine. Creatine is a white, tasteless, odorless powder, that is a naturally occurring metabolite found in muscle tissue. It is used primarily as a nutritional and dietary supplement, and to formulate some specialty weight-gain products. It is used to a comparatively minor extent in laboratory research. The merchandise subject to this investigation is provided for in subheading 2925.20.90 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

Status of Proceedings:
1.      Type of investigation:  Final antidumping.
2.      Petitioner:  Pfanstiehl Laboratories, Inc. (Pfanstiehl).
3.      Investigation instituted by USITC:  February 12, 1999.
4.      Hearing:  December 16, 1999.
5.      USITC vote:  January 19, 2000.
6.      USITC notification of Department of Commerce: January 26, 2000.


U.S. Industry:
1.      Number of U.S. firms in 1998:  Seven.
2.      Production:  2.1 million kilograms.
3.      Employment of production and related workers:  39.
4.      U.S. producers' shipments in 1998:  2.2 million kilograms.
5.      U.S. apparent consumption in 1998:  (1)
6.      Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 1998:  (1)


U.S. Imports:
1.      Quantity of subject imports in 1998:  (1)
2.      Value of subject imports in 1998:  (1)

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(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.