FACT SHEET

Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation on Imports of

Superalloy Degassed Chromium from Japan

On March 25, the Department of Commerce announced its decision to initiate an antidumping duty investigation on imports of superalloy degassed chromium from Japan.

Next Steps: On or about April 18, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to issue its preliminary determination as to whether the domestic industry is materially injured, or is threatened with material injury, as a result of imports of subject merchandise from Japan. Should the ITC make an affirmative preliminary determination, the Department would then be scheduled to make its preliminary determination in August 2005.

Petitioners: The petition requesting this investigation was filed on March 4, by Eramet Marietta, Inc. (OH), and Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union, Local 5-0639 (OH).

Product Description: The product covered by this investigation is all forms, sizes, and grades of superalloy degassed chromium from Japan. Superalloy degassed chromium is a high-purity form of chrome metal that generally contains at least 99.5 percent, but less than 99.95 percent, chromium. Superalloy degassed chromium contains very low levels of certain gaseous elements and other impurities (typically no more than 0.005 percent nitrogen, 0.005 percent sulphur, 0.05 percent oxygen, 0.01 percent aluminum, 0.05 percent silicon, and 0.35 percent iron). Superalloy degassed chromium generally is sold in briquetted form, as “pellets” or “compacts,” which typically are 1 ½ inches x 1 inch x 1 inch or smaller in size and have a smooth surface. Superalloy degassed chromium is currently classifiable under subheading 8112.21.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). This petition covers all chromium meeting the above specifications for superalloy degassed chromium regardless of tariff classification. Superalloy degassed chromium is used predominantly to produce high-end superalloys that are used to make the most critical components in jet aircraft engines and gas turbine engines used for power generation.

Certain higher-purity and lower-purity chromium products are excluded from the scope of this investigation. Specifically, the investigation does not cover electronics-grade chromium, which contains a higher percentage of chromium (typically not less than 99.95 percent), a much lower level of iron (less than 0.05 percent), and lower levels of other impurities than superalloy degassed chromium. The investigation also does not cover “vacuum melt grade” (VMG) chromium, which normally contains at least 99.4 percent chromium and contains a higher level of one or more impurities (nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, aluminum and/or silicon) than specified above for superalloy degassed chromium.

Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Initiated Dumping Margins:

Case Calendar:

* These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.

** This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determinations by both the Department and the ITC.

Import Statistics¹:

Source: U.S. ITC Trade DataWeb for HTS category 81122100

¹These volumes and values reflect the petitioners' estimates of the portion of basket-category import statistics reported by U.S. Bureau of the Census that account for the subject merchandise.