US close to impose punitive duties on Chinese refrigeration products

The US Commerce Department on Wednesday set final dumping and subsidy rates on Chinese refrigeration products whose technical name is 1, 1, 1, 2- Tetrafluoroethane, paving the way for the U.S. government to impose punitive duties on the products in the months ahead.

The department made its affirmative final determination that 1, 1, 1, 2-Tetrafluoroethane from China had been "sold in the United States at dumping margins of 280.67 percent," higher than its preliminary determination of dumping margins ranging from 133.47 percent to 237.33 percent.

The department also made its affirmative final determination that Chinese producers and exporters of 1, 1, 1, 2- Tetrafluoroethane have received countervailing subsidies ranging from 1.87 percent to 22.75 percent.

Punitive duties would be imposed after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) made an affirmative final rule, which is scheduled for Nov. 28. If the ITC makes a negative determination, the investigations will be terminated.

The U.S. Commerce Department launched the anti-dumping and countervailing duties probes over Chinese refrigeration products last year requested by Mexichem Fluor, Inc., a refrigerant producer based in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Imports of these products from China were estimated at 34.7 million U.S. dollars last year, according to U.S. official data.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to honor its commitment against protectionism and work with China to maintain a free, open and just trade environment.