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Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Sodium Gluconate Products From China and France

PMP Fermentation Products recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on sodium gluconate, gluconic acid and derivative products from France and China, and countervailing duties on the same products from China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on sodium gluconate products from these countries. The powdered, water-soluble chemical is used in a wide variety of industries, including as a cleaning agent for glassware, a variety of functions in mixing concrete, in the food industry and in household products.

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Proposed Scope

The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:

The scope of this investigation covers all grades of sodium gluconate, liquid gluconate, and gluconic acid, regardless of physical form (including, but not limited to substrates; solutions; dry granular form or powders, regardless of particle size; or as a slurry). The scope also includes sodium gluconate, liquid gluconate, and gluconic acid that has been blended or is in solution with other product(s) where the resulting mix contains 35 percent or more of sodium gluconate, liquid gluconate, and/or gluconic acid (including glucono delta lactone, in essence dry gluconic acid, commonly referred to as GDL) by dry weight. Sodium gluconate has a molecular formula of NaC6H12O7; gluconic acid has a molecular formula of C6H12O7; liquid gluconate is a blend of gluconic acid and sodium gluconate in an aqueous solution; and GDL has a molecular formula of C6H16O6. Sodium gluconate has a Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number of 527-07-1, and can also be called "sodium salt of gluconic acid" and/or sodium 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentahydroxy-hexanoate. Liquid gluconate has CAS registry numbers of 527-07-1, 526-95-4, and 7732-18-5, and can also be called 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-Pentahydroxycaproic acid-hexanoate. Gluconic acid has a CAS registry number of 526-95-4, and can also be called 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-Pentahydroxycaproic Acid. GDL has a CAS registry number of 90-80-2, and can also be called D-Glucono-1,5- lactone. The merchandise covered by the scope of this investigation is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings 2918.16.1000, 2918.16.5010 and 2932.20.5020. Although the HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise 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 Dec. 20.

Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.