WASHINGTON — The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) on Dec. 13 voted 6-0 to move forward against China regarding possible illegal HFC-134a refrigerant coming into the United States. The ITC said in a news release that there is a “reasonable indication” that U.S. industry is materially injured by the imports.

The decision is in regards to a petition filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce in which Louisiana-based Mexichem Fluor has asked the government to impose sanctions on the imports.

The ITC will continue its investigation and make a final determination whether the U.S. industry is being materially injured or threatened with material injury.

“The massive Chinese overcapacity, Chinese government subsidies and Chinese underselling, combined with the U.S. industry’s need to operate at high utilization levels makes the domestic industry quite vulnerable to a real and imminent threat of injury,” said Mexichem in its petition.

A final determination may not come until October 2014.

Publication date: 12/9/2013

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