UNITED STATES: The US Department of Commerce (Commerce) has confirmed that it will be investigating claims of R134a from several Chinese businesses breaching antidumping laws, following a formal complaint from Mexichem Fluor.

For the purpose of antidumping investigations, dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value. Excessive dumping can distort the market value of that product, leading to negative impacts on domestic industry.

Companies whose antidumping margins are alleged to be too much include Weitron International Refrigeration Equipment (Kunshan), Jiangsu Bluestar Green Technology, Shandong Dongyue Chemical, TT International, Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry and China-Wide Rate.

If both Commerce and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) conclude that imports of R134a from China materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue an antidumping order.

It is anticipated that the investigation by Commerce will be completed by early October 2014, with the ITC to make its final determination in November 2014.