On November 25, 2024, Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. (“Saint-Gobain” or “Petitioner”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. imports of Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People’s Republic of China (“China”).
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The following language describes the imported merchandise from China:
The merchandise covered by this investigation is sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains which are comprised of minimum 94% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and may contain other compounds, including, but not limited to, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, sodium superoxide, ferric oxide, magnesium oxide, di-aluminum magnesium tetroxide, zirconium dioxide, or zirconium carbonate. Grain sizes of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains range from 0.85 mm to 0.0395 mm (which corresponds to ANSI grit sizes from 20 to 280).
The sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains’ defining crystalline microstructure, as well as their irregular shapes, make them well suited for advanced abrasive applications, as compared with conventional fused grains. The shapes may be angular, sharp, extra sharp, blocky, splintery, round stripped, triangular or shaped like extruded rods or stars. The hardness ranges between 16 and 22 gigapascals by the by Vickers Diamond Indent Method. The microstructure crystalline size ranges from 0.1 to 30 µm. These ceramic abrasive grains come in blue, white, white-translucent, or off-white opaque colors.
Ceramic abrasive grains are exclusively manufactured through a “sol gel” process which creates the ceramic’s unique, defining crystalline structure and imparts certain advanced properties that distinguish ceramic abrasive grains from conventional fused abrasive grains, such as extreme hardness and strength, resistance to abrasion and chemicals, high melting point, high thermal conductivity, high degree of refractoriness, high dielectric strength, and high electric resistivity at elevated temperatures.
Sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains are covered by the scope of this investigation, whether or not incorporated into downstream articles, including but not limited to, abrasive papers, grinding wheels, grinding cylinders, and grinding discs. When incorporated into downstream articles, only the sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains component of such articles is covered by the product scope, and not the downstream product as a whole.
The merchandise subject to these investigations is properly classified under subheading 2818.10.2090 and 2818.10.2090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Other merchandise subject to the current scope, including when incorporated into the abovementioned downstream articles, may be classified under HTSUS subheadings 2818.10.1000, 2818.20.0000, 2818.30.0000, 3824.99.1100, 3824.99.1900, 6804.22.1000, 6804.22.4000, 6804.22.6000, 8204.12.0000, 8474.90.0010, 8474.90.0020, 8474.90.0050, and 8474.90.0090. Although the HTSUS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
PETITIONERS
Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc
20 Moores Road
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
T: 508-795-5000
W: https://www.ceramicmaterials.saint-gobain.com/
Scott Leonard
Commercial Directory Specialty Grains & Products
Scott.W.Leonard@saint-gobain.com
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
Crowell & Moring LLP
1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 624.2500
NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS
For a list of foreign producers/exporters alleged by Petitioners, please see Attachment I.
NAMED IMPORTERS
For a list of importers alleged by the Petitioner, please see Attachment II.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
| Event | Earliest Date |
| Petition Filed | November 25, 2024 |
| DOC Initiation | December 15, 2024 |
| ITC Preliminary Investigation: | |
| Questionnaires Due | December 9, 2024 |
| Request to appear at hearing | December 14, 2024 |
| Hearing | December 16, 2024 |
| Briefs | December 21, 2024 |
| ITC Vote | January 9, 2025 |
| DOC Investigation Schedule: | |
| DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination | May 4, 2025 |
| DOC Final Antidumping Determination | July 18, 2025 |
| DOC Preliminary Countervailing Determination | February 18, 2025 |
| DOC Final Countervailing Determination | May 4, 2025 |
| ITC Final Investigation: | |
| ITC Final AD Determination | September 1, 2025 |
| ITC Final CVD Determination | June 18, 2025 |
ALLEGED DUMPING MARGINS
China: 176.15%
ALLEGED COUNTERVAILING DUTY MARGINS
Above de minimis.
ALLEGED SUBSIDIES
For a list of alleged subsidies the Petitioner, please see Attachment III.
IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | April – Sept. 2023 | April – Sept. 2024 | |
| China | |||||
| Volume (kg) | 903,641 | 948,759 | 807,589 | 578,647 | 581,665 |
| Import Value (USD) | 4,613,106 | 1,582,486 | 2,229,773 | 1,567,534 | 1,390,491 |
| AUV | 5.11 | 1.67 | 2.76 | 2.71 | 2.39 |
CONTACT US For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Nithya Nagarajan, Dan Wilson, Jeffrey Neeley, or Stephen Brophy.