On January 23, 2020, Petitioner Arkema Inc. filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of difluoromethane (R-32), a hydrofluorocarbon gas, from the People’s Republic of China.
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
Based on the product description and production process described in the sections below, this petition requests the following scope language:
The merchandise covered by this investigation is difluoromethane (“R-32”), or its chemical equivalent, regardless of form, type or purity level. R-32 has the Chemical Abstracts Service (“CAS”) registry number of 75-10-5 and the chemical formula CH2F2. R-32 is also referred to as difluoromethane , HFC-32,FC-32, Freon-32, methylene difluoride, methylene fluoride, carbon fluoride hydride, halocarbon R32, fluorocarbon R32, and UN 3252. Subject merchandise also includes R-32 and unpurified R-32 that are processed in a third country or the United States, including, but not limited to, purifying or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of this investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope R-32. R-32 that has been blended with products other than pentafluoroethane (R-125) is included within this scope if such blends contain 85% or more by volume on an actual percentage basis of R-32. In addition, R-32 that has been blended with any amount of R-125 is included within this scope if such blends contain more than 52% by volume on an actual percentage basis of R-32. Whether R-32 is blended with R-125 or other products, only the R-32 component of the mixture is covered by the scope of these orders. The scope also includes R-32 that is commingled with R-32 from sources not subject to this investigation. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of this order.
Excluded from the current scope is merchandise covered by the scope of the antidumping order on Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from the People’s Republic of China. See Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from the People’s Republic of China, 81 Fed. Reg. 55436 (Aug. 19, 2016) (the “Blends Order”).
R-32 is classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 2903.39.2035. Other merchandise subject to the current scope, including the above mentioned blends that are outside the scope of the Blends Order, may be classified under 2903.39.2045 and 3824.78.0020. The HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the scope of the petition is dispositive.
PETITIONER
Arkema Inc.
900 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19406-1308
Scot Swan
Telephone: I -610-878-6410
Email: scot.swan@arkema.com
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
Sydney H. Mintzer
Mayer Brown LLP
1999 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202)-263-3000
NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS
For a list of foreign products/exporters alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment I.
NAMED IMPORTERS
For a list of importers alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment II.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
| Event | Earliest Date |
| Petition Filed | January 23, 2020 |
| DOC Initiation | February 12, 2020 |
| ITC Preliminary Investigation: | |
| Questionnaires Due | February 6, 2020 |
| Request to appear at hearing | February 11, 2020 |
| Hearing | February 13, 2020 |
| Briefs | February 18, 2020 |
| ITC Vote | February 24, 2020 |
| DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination | April 17, 2020 |
| DOC Final Antidumping Determination | September 14, 2020 |
| ITC Final Determination | October 29, 2020 |
ALLEGED DUMPING MARGIN
People’s Republic of China: 87.98%
IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE
Petitioner has redacted the imports of the subject merchandise.
CONTACT US
For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Jeffrey Neeley, Nithya Nagarajan, or Stephen Brophy.