FACT SHEET

Preliminary Determinations in the Antidumping Duty Investigations on Imports of

Chlorinated Isocyanurates from Spain and the People's Republic of China

On December 13, the Department of Commerce (the Department) announced its affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations on imports of chlorinated isocyanurates from Spain and the People's Republic of China (PRC).   The Department preliminarily determined that producers/exporters have sold chlorinated isocyanurates in the U.S. market at less than fair value, with a margin of 12.13 percent for Spain, and with margins ranging from 125.97 to 179.48 percent for the PRC .

Companies Qualifying for a "Separate Rate":  The Department has determined that certain Chinese companies that voluntarily responded to the Department's Section A questionnaire have demonstrated an absence of government control from their export activities and are eligible to receive "separate-rate" status.   The Department will apply the weighted-average dumping margin of the mandatory respondents in this investigation (140.27 percent) to these companies for the purpose of the preliminary determination.

Next Steps:   The Department will conduct verifications of the data and evidence submitted on the record and consider comments from interested parties on its preliminary determinations before making its final determinations in early May 2005.   If the Department makes final determinations that imports were sold below fair value, and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes a final affirmative determination that imports are materially injuring, or threatening to materially injure, the domestic industry, the Department will issue antidumping duty orders, and instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits for antidumping duties at specified rates.

Petitioners:   The petitions requesting the initiation of these investigations were filed on May 14, 2004, by Clearon Corporation (NJ) and Occidental Chemical Corporation (TX).

Product Description:   The products covered by this investigation are chlorinated isocyanurates.   Chlorinated isocyanurates are derivatives of cyanuric acid, described as chlorinated s-triazine triones.   They are available in powder, granular, and tableted forms.   These investigations cover all chlorinated isocyanurates regardless of end use.   They are used as sanitizing, disinfecting, and bleaching agents.   Principal end use applications are in swimming pool sanitizers, machine dishwashing detergents, toilet bowl cleaners, bleaches and scouring powders, and in water treatment applications.

Chlorinated isocyanurates are currently classifiable under subheading 2933.69.6050 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).   This tariff classification represents a basket category that includes chlorinated isocyanurates and other compounds including an unfused triazine ring.   Although the HTSUS item number is provided forconvenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise remains dispositive.

Preliminary Dumping Margins:

PRC Section A Respondents:

Case Calendar:

* The deadline for the final determination has been extended.

** This will take place only in the event of a final affirmative determination by the Department.

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

Import Statistics*:

*Source: ITC Dataweb .   The subject merchandise falls under a "basket" HTSUS subheading that contains various types of merchandise other than chlorinated isocyanurates.   Therefore, data for exact import quantities and values of chlorinated isocyanurates are not available.