March 19, 2020
News Release 20-023
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-638 and 731-TA-1473 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigation Concerning Corrosion Inhibitors from China

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of corrosion inhibitors from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of this product from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about April 30, 2020, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about July 14, 2020.

The Commission’s public report Corrosion Inhibitors from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-638 and 731-TA-1473 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5039, March 2020) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after April 20, 2020; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.


UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Corrosion Inhibitors from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-638 and 731‐TA‐1473 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  Corrosion inhibitors covered in these investigations are used to protect elements and metal alloys, including copper, copper alloys, zinc, cobalt, silver, aluminum, and steel from corrosion, a natural process that converts a refined metal into a more chemically stable form (e.g., an oxide, hydroxide, or sulfide). Specifically, the scope includes tolyltriazole and benzotriazole of all grades and forms, including the sodium salt forms. Included are mixtures of tolyltriazole, benzotriazole, and their salt forms amongst themselves or with other products, provided that the tolyltriazole and benzotriazole comprise at least 5 percent of the mixture on a dry weight basis. The products are typically used for corrosion protection in a variety of applications, such as industrial water treatment, automotive fluids, metalworking fluids, aircraft and runway de-icers, lubricants, direct treatment, cleaners, circuit boards, inks, and coatings.    

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioner:  Wincom, Inc., Ohio.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
4.   USITC Conference Date:  Wednesday, February 26, 2020.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, March 19, 2020.
6.   USITC Views to Commerce:  Monday, March 30, 2020.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  3.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  South Carolina, Texas and Ohio.
3.   Production and related workers:  [1]
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1

U.S. Imports in 2019:

1.   Subject imports:  1
2.   Nonsubject imports:  1
3.   Leading import sources:  China.

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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