Petition Filed for New AD Duties on Strontium Chromate From Austria and France
WPC Technologies filed a petition Sept. 5 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission, asking for new antidumping duties on strontium chromate from Austria and France. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD duty investigations on strontium chromate from the two countries. The subject merchandise is used as a corrosion-resistant pigment in paints and coatings, particularly for the protection of steel and aluminum.
In the petition, WPC said that, while the merchandise subject to the investigation is produced in Austria and France, it is "sometimes is being shipped through the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and labeled as products of those countries, rather than properly labeled as products of France or Austria." Products of Austria and France that "have a false country of origin are included in the scope of this investigation," the petition said.
Proposed Scope
The merchandise covered by this investigation is strontium chromate, regardless of form (including but not limited to, powder (sometimes known as granular), dispersions (sometimes known as paste), or in any solution). The chemical formula for strontium chromate is SrCr04 and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number is 7789-06-2.
Strontium chromate that has been blended with another product or products is included in the scope if the resulting mix contains 15 percent or more of strontium chromate by total formula weight. Subject merchandise includes strontium chromate from Austria or France in powder form that has been processed in a third country into a product that otherwise would be within the scope of this investigation, i.e., if any such further processing would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in Austria or France, it is included in the scope of the investigation.
The merchandise subject to this investigation is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 2841.50.9100. Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS subheading 3212.90.00 or other subheadings. While the HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope 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 an antidumping duty investigation that could lead to a permanent antidumping duty order. Comments are due by Sept. 25.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.