United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has joined the discussion regarding the import of HFC-134a from China. On April 14, the federal agency released what it called a preliminary Countervailing Duty Determination (CVD).
The CVD imposes net subsidy rates ranging up to 28.74% in R-134a from certain commercial companies in China. The charges would take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
The idea, according to a number of people within the U.S. refrigerant industry, is to level the playing field for imported refrigerants that some feel are being unfairly subsidized by the Chinese government.
On December 13, 2013, the International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 6-0 to move against China over the possible illegal entry of HFC-134 into the U.S. That decision relates to a complaint filed with the Comptroller's Office, in which Mexichem Fluor asked the government to impose sanctions on imports.
The ITC is trying to determine whether the U.S. industry is suffering harm or threat of material injury.
"China's massive overcapacity, government subsidies, and undervaluation, combined with the need for U.S. industry to operate at high levels of utilization, make domestic industry very vulnerable to a real threat of imminent harm," Mexichem said in his petition.
