China and Taiwan Optical Brighteners: ITA Announces New AD Investigations
The International Trade Administration has issued a fact sheet announcing the initiation of antidumping duty investigations on imports of stilbenic optical brightening agents from China and Taiwan.
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(Certain stilbenic optical brightening agents are typically used as optical brighteners in the production of paper.)
Alleged AD Margins
The fact sheet states that the alleged dumping margins for stilbenic optical brightening agents from China and Taiwan range from 80.64% - 203.16% and from 61.79% -109.45%, respectively.
Scope of the AD Investigations
According to the fact sheet, the merchandise covered by these investigations are all forms (whether free acid or salt) of compounds known as triazinylaminostilbenes (i.e., all derivatives of 4,4’-bis [1,3,5- triazin-2-yl] amino-2,2’-stilbenedisulfonic acid), except for compounds listed in the following paragraph. The certain stilbenic optical brightening agents covered by these investigations include final optical brightening agent products, as well as intermediate products that are themselves triazinylaminostilbenes produced during the synthesis of final optical brightening agent products.
Excluded from these investigations are all forms of 4,4’-bis[4-anilino-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl] amino-2,2’-stilbenedisulfonic acid, C40H40N12O8S2 (Fluorescent Brightener 71).
These investigations cover the above-described compounds in any state (including but not limited to powder, slurry, or solution), of any concentrations of active certain stilbenic optical brightening ingredient, as well as any compositions regardless of additives (i.e., mixtures or blends, whether of certain stilbenic optical brightening agents with each other, or of certain stilbenic optical brightening agents with additives that are not certain stilbenic optical brightening agents), and in any type of packaging.
Imports of the subject merchandise are classifiable under subheading 3204.20.8000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, but may also enter under subheadings 2933.69.6050, 2921.59.4000 and 2921.59.8090.
The ITA notes that although the HTS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
(See future issue of ITT for complete scope of the investigations to be published in the Federal Register.)
ITC to Make Prelim Injury Determinations by May 16, Etc.
The International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or about May 16, 2011.
If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China and Taiwan are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic industry, the investigations will continue, and the ITA will be scheduled to make its preliminary determinations in September 2011.
(See future issue of ITT for deadlines for quantity and value (Q&V) questionnaires and separate rate applications in the China investigation.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/07/11 news, 11040745, for BP summary of the International Trade Commission's announcement of its institution of the companion injury investigations and its scheduling of the preliminary phase.)