New AD/CVD Requested on Vanillin From China

A U.S. producer seeks the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of vanillin from China, it said in petitions filed June 5 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CVD orders on vanillin. Solvay USA requested the investigations.

Proposed Scope

The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:

"The merchandise covered by the investigation is vanillin, with the molecular formula C8H8O3 or C9H10O3. For purposes of this investigation, vanillin consists of natural vanillin, synthetic vanillin (also known as 4-Hydroxy-3- methoxybenzaldehyde), bio-sourced synthetic vanillin (‘biovanillin’), and ethylvanillin (also known as 3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde). Vanillin covered by this investigation is a chemical compound with the Chemical Abstracts Service (‘CAS’) number 121-33-5 or 121-32-4. Products with the chemical formula C9H10O3 (ethylvanillin) are also included within the scope. Vanillin is covered by the investigation regardless of whether it is in a crystalline powder or crystal form. Vanillin is covered by the scope of the investigations, irrespective of purity, particle size, physical form, packaging, or production process.

"Merchandise subject to the investigations are specified within the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 2912.41.0000 and 2912.42.0000. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the merchandise covered by the 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 June 17.