Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Amorphous Silica Fabric From China
Auburn Manufacturing filed a petition on Jan. 19 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on amorphous silica fabric rom China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on amorphous silica fabric, which is used in industrial applications to make welding curtains, welding blankets, welding pads, or fire blanket.
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Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
The product covered by this petition is woven, industrial grade amorphous silica fabric (ASF), which contains a minimum of 90 percent silica (SiO2) by nominal weight, and a nominal width in excess of 8 inches. The petition covers industrial grade ASF regardless of other materials contained in the fabric, regardless of whether in roll form or cut-to-length, regardless of weight, width (except as noted above), or length. The petition covers industrial grade ASF regardless of whether the product is approved by a standards testing body (such as being Factory Mutual (FM) Approved), or regardless of whether it meets any governmental specification.
Industrial grade ASF may be produced in various colors. The petition covers industrial grade ASF regardless of whether the fabric is colored. Industrial grade ASF may be coated or treated with materials that include, but are not limited to, oils, vermiculite, acrylic latex compound, silicone, aluminized polyester (Mylar) film, pressure-sensitive adhesive, or other coatings and treatments. The petition covers industrial grade ASF regardless of whether the fabric is coated or treated. Industrial grade ASF may be heat-cleaned. The petition covers industrial grade ASF regardless of whether the fabric is heat-cleaned.
Industrial grade ASF may be imported in rolls or may be cut-to-length and then further fabricated to make welding curtains, welding blankets, welding pads, fire blankets, fire pads, or fire screens, Regardless of the name, all industrial grade ASF that has been further cut-to-length or cut-to-width or further finished by finishing the edges and/or adding grommets, is included within the scope of this petition.
Subject merchandise also includes (1) any industrial grade ASF that has been converted into industrial grade ASF in China from fiberglass cloth produced in a third country; and (2) any industrial grade ASF that has been further processed in a third country prior to export to the United States, including but not limited to treating, coating, slitting, cutting to length, cutting to width, finishing the edges, adding grommets, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope industrial grade ASF.
Excluded from the scope of the petition is ASF that is subjected to controlled shrinkage, which is also called "pre-shrunk" or "aerospace grade" ASF. In order to be excluded as a pre-shrunk or aerospace grade ASF, the ASF must meet the following exclusion criteria: (1) the ASF must contain a minimum of 98 percent silica (SiO2) by nominal weight; (2) the ASF must have an areal shrinkage of 4 percent or less; (3) the ASF must contain no coatings or treatments; and (a) the ASF must be white in color. For purposes of this scope, "areal shrinkage" refers to the extent to which a specimen of ASF shrinks while subjected to heating at 1800 degrees F for 30 minutes.
Also excluded from the scope are ASF rope and tubing (or sleeving). ASF rope is a knitted or braided product made from amorphous silica yarns. Silica tubing (or sleeving) is braided into a hollow sleeve from amorphous silica yarns.
The subject imports are normally classified in items 7019.59.4021, 7019.59.4096, 7019.59.9021, and 7019.59.9096 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), but may also enter under HTSUS items 7019.90.1000 or 7019.90.5050. HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.
Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support
The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Comments are due by Feb. 8.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.