I.  Type of Action: Antidumping Duty (“AD”): China

II.  Product:

R-32 is an HFC, a colorless, odorless gas that is used primarily as a component in HFC blends, which are used in refrigerant applications. R-32 is also referred to as HFC-32, FC-32, Freon-32, methylene difluoride, methylene fluoride, carbon fluoride hydride, halocarbon R32, fluorocarbon R32, and UN 3252. R-32 is a low-to-medium temperature refrigerant and is not ozone depleting. As compared to other HFC components, R-32 is more flammable and has a lower global warming potential.

III.  Scope and HTS classifications:

The merchandise covered by this investigation is difluoromethane (“R-32”), or its chemical equivalent, regardless of form, type or purity level. R-32 has the Chemical Abstracts Service (“CAS”) registry number of 75-10-5 and the chemical formula CH2F2. R-32 is also referred to as difluoromethane, HFC-32, FC-32, Freon-32, methylene difluoride, methylene fluoride, carbon fluoride hydride, halocarbon R32, fluorocarbon R32, and UN 3252. Subject merchandise also includes R-32 and unpurified R-32 that are processed in a third country or the United States, including, but not limited to, purifying or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of this investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope R-32. R-32 that has been blended with products other than pentafluoroethane (R-125) is included within this scope if such blends contain 85% or more by volume on an actual percentage basis of R-32. In addition, R-32 that has been blended with any amount of R-l25 is included within this scope if such blends contain more than 52% by volume on an actual percentage basis of R-32. Whether R-32 is blended with R-125 or other products, only the R-32 component of the mixture is covered by the scope of these orders. The scope also includes R-32 that is commingled with R-32 from sources not subject to this investigation. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of this order.

Excluded from the current scope is merchandise covered by the scope of the antidumping order on Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from the People’s Republic of China. See Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from the People’s Republic of China, 81 Fed. Reg. 55436 (Aug. 19, 2016) (the “Blends Order”).

R-32 is classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 2903.39.2035. Other merchandise subject to the current scope, including the above-mentioned blends that are outside the scope of the Blends Order, may be classified under 2903.39.2045 and 3824.78.0020. The HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes.

IV.  Date of Filing: January 23, 2020

V.  Petitioner: Arkema

VI.  Foreign Producers/Exporters:

Please contact our office for a list filed with the petition.

VII.  US Importers named:

Please contact our office for a list filed with the petition.

VIII.  Alleged Dumping Margins:

China: 87.98%;

IX.  Comments:

A.  Projected date of ITC Preliminary Conference: February 13, 2020.

Please contact our office for a complete projected schedule for the AD investigation.

B.  The earliest theoretical date for retroactive suspension of liquidation for the AD is April 2, 2020.

C.  Volume and Value of Imports:

Please contact our office for a summary of the data filed with the petition.