FACT SHEET

Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation on

Imports of Superalloy Degassed Chromium from Japan

On August 12, the Department of Commerce announced its preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation of superalloy degassed chromium from Japan. The Department preliminarily found that JFE Material Co., Ltd., sold superalloy degassed chromium in the U.S. market at less than fair value, with a margin of 129.32 percent. As a result of this preliminary determination, the Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to obtain a cash deposit or bond at the rate of the preliminary margin on imports of merchandise subject to this investigation.

Adverse Facts Available: The preliminary dumping margin of 129.32 percent is based on adverse facts available as the mandatory respondent company did not participate in the Department’s investigation.

Next Steps: The Department will consider all submitted comments from interested parties along with other record evidence before making its final determination in October 2005. If the Department makes a final determination that imports were sold below fair value in this investigation and the International Trade Commission (ITC) makes a final affirmative determination that imports from Japan materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, the Department will issue an antidumping duty order and instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits on imports of subject merchandise.

Petitioners: The petition requesting this investigation was filed on March 4, 2005, 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 1½ 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” 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.

Preliminary Dumping Margin:

Case Calendar:

* This deadline 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 Statistics:

Source: U.S. ITC Trade DataWeb for HTSUS subheading 81122100