For Immediate Release: October 16, 2008
Contact: Brittany Eck  (202) 482-3809

COMMERCE FINDS UNFAIR DUMPING OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL PRODUCT FROM INDIA AND CHINA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced its affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations of imports of 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid (HEDP) from India and China. HEDP is used in water treatment, detergents and cleaners, peroxide bleach stabilization, and personal care products.

“By dumping imports of HEDP into the United States, foreign exporters are impeding American workers from having a fair chance to compete in the international marketplace,” said Assistant Secretary for Import Administration David Spooner. “The Administration is committed to aggressively enforcing America's trade remedy laws, when warranted, in order to achieve a level playing field.”

Commerce preliminarily determined that exporters/producers from India have sold HEDP in the United States at 3.91 percent, and from China at 24.30 to 72.42 percent, below normal value.

The sole Indian mandatory respondent, Aquapharm Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., and all other exporters from India received a preliminary dumping rate of 3.91 percent.

In the China investigation, the participating Chinese mandatory respondent, Nanjing University of Chemical Technology Changzhou Wujin Water Quality Stabilizer Factory Ltd., received a preliminary dumping rate of 24.30 percent. Changzhou Kewei Fine Chemical Factory failed to fully cooperate in the investigation and received a rate of 72.42 percent based on adverse facts available. Two Chinese exporters received a separate preliminary rate of 24.30 percent. All other exporters will receive the China-wide rate of 72.42 percent.

As a result of these preliminary determinations, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates. Commerce is currently scheduled to make its final determinations in March 2009.

The petitioner for this investigation is Compass Chemical International LLC (Smyrna, Ga.).

Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than normal value.

For more information about Import Administration or for the fact sheet on today’s decision, visit www.trade.gov/ia.

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