June 6, 2024
News Release 24-050
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-721 and 731-TA-1689 (Preliminary)
Contact: Michelea WMcLeod, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes To Continue Investigations on Alkyl Phosphate Esters 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 alkyl phosphate esters from China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China.

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

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of alkyl phosphate esters from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about July 17, 2024, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about September 30, 2024.

The Commission’s public report Alkyl Phosphate Esters from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-721 and 731-TA-1689 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5516, June 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by July 5, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION 
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Alkyl Phosphate Esters from China 
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-721 and 731-TA-1689 (Preliminary)

Product Description: Alkyl phosphate esters covered in these investigations are clear, colorless liquids that are primarily used as flame retardants in rigid and flexible polyurethane foam applications. These certain alkyl phosphate esters (“CAPEs”), specifically TCPP, TDCP, and TEP, have at their core a phosphate ion in which three of the oxygen atoms are bonded with either a chlorinated hydrocarbon in the case of TCPP and TDCP or a hydrocarbon in the case of TEP. CAPEs are primarily used as flame retardants in foam insulation in commercial and residential construction. One of the largest applications for CAPEs is commercial roofing. The fastest growing application in the U.S. market is the replacement of fiberglass insulation with low-density, open cell insulation in residential housing. TCPP is the most used CAPE in the U.S. market, largely due to its cost effectiveness. 

 Status of Proceedings:

  1. Types of investigations:  Preliminary countervailing duty and antidumping duty investigations.
  2. Petitioner: ICL-IP America, St. Louis, Missouri.
  3. USITC Institution Date:  Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
  4. USITC Conference Date:  Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
  5. USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, June 6, 2024.
  6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Friday, June 7, 2024.

 U.S. Industry in 2023:

  1. Number of U.S. producers:  2.
  2. Location of producers’ plants:  South Carolina and West Virginia. 
  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 2023:

  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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