The Ministry of Commerce received, on April 28, 2013, an application for anti-dumping investigation formally submitted by Shandong Xinlong Technology Co., Ltd. and Haohua Honghe Chemical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “the Applicants”) on behalf of domestic perchlorethylene industry, in which the Applicants requested an anti-dumping investigation to be carried out against imports of perchlorethylene originated in the EU and the U.S.

In accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping, the Ministry of Commerce has reviewed the qualifications of the Applicants, related conditions of imported products for which the application for investigation is submitted, related conditions of similar products in China, the influence on the domestic industry by imported products for which the application for investigation is submitted, and related conditions of the country (region) against which the application for investigation is submitted. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce has reviewed evidence with respect to dumping, injury, and the causal relationship between dumping and injury etc. as provided in the application. The preliminary evidence provided by the Applicants shows that the aggregate output of perchlorethylene of the Applicants and companies in support of this application including Alashan Dakang Trichloroethylene and Perchlorethylene Co., Ltd, Ningxia Kangmei Chemical Co., Ltd. and Shandong Liaocheng Luxi Chemical Group No. 6 Chemical Fertilizer Co., Ltd. conforms to the provisions relating to the application for anti-dumping investigation filed by domestic industry as specified in Articles 11, 13 and 17 in the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping. Concurrently, the application includes the contents and related evidence required for filing an anti-dumping investigation as specified in Articles 14 and 15 in the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping.

In accordance with result of aforesaid reviews and Article 16 of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping, the Ministry of Commerce decided to file for anti-dumping investigation against imports of perchlorethylene originated in the EU and the U.S. as of May 31, 2013. Related matters are hereby announced as follows:

I. Filing for Investigation and Period of Investigation

As of the date of issuance of this Announcement, the Ministry of Commerce performed anti-dumping investigations against imports of perchlorethylene originated in the EU and the U.S., and the period of dumping investigation as determined for this investigation is from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, and the period of industry injury investigation is from January 1, 2009 to March 31, 2013.

II. Product under Investigation and Scope of Investigation

Scope of investigation: imports of perchlorethylene originated in the EU and the U.S.

Name of product under investigation: Perchlorethylene or Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)

Category of chemicals: organic-derivative of hydrocarbon

Chemical Molecular formula: C2Cl4

Chemical structural formula:

Physical and chemical characteristics: perchlorethylene is transparent fluid with smells similar to ether. Its molecular weight is 165.82; melting point is -22.2℃; boiling point is 121.2℃; relative density (water=1) is 1.6226; steam density is 5.83 and steam pressure is 2.11kPa/20℃. It is insoluble in water (soluble in about 10,000 volumes of water), and can be mixed with and soluble in many organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, chloroform and benzene; it can dissolve many substances (such as rubber, resin, fat, alchlor, sulfur, iodine and mercury bichloride). It can be slowly decomposed into trichloroacetic acid and hydrochloric acid in water. It corrodes iron, aluminum and zinc in water (can be inhibited with stabilizers). It is a kind of non-flammable liquid. It is decomposed in high temperature and will be decomposed into different decomposition products in different conditions, which are mainly hydrochloric acid, phosgene and carbon monoxide. Where active carbon exists, it will be decomposed into hexachlorocyclohexanes and hexachloroethane when heated to 700℃. It can be oxidized by strong oxide agents, and chemically reacts drastically with barium powders, beryllium powders, lithium scraps, dinitrogen tetroxide and sodium hydroxide.

Main usage: perchlorethylene is an important organic chorine product that has been widely used. It is mainly used as organic solvents, dry cleaner, desulfurizer, textile finishing agent, metal decontaminant, fats extraction agents, organic synthesis and thermal transfer medium in industry and as anthelmintics in medical treatment and as intermediates for refrigerants HCFC-123, HCFC-124 and HFC-125.

The product is included under the Customs Import and Export Tariff of the People’s Republic of China: 29032300.

III. Filing for Response

With respect to dumping investigation, any interested party can apply to the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports of the Ministry of Commerce for participating in the response within 20 days as of the date of issuance of this Announcement; while involved exporters or manufacturers participating in the response should provide quantities and amounts of products under investigation which has been exported to China from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013. The Reference Format of Filing for Dumping Investigation Response is available in the column “Case Status” on the website of Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports—sub website of the Ministry of Commerce (website: http://gpj.mofcom.gov.cn).

With respect to industry injury investigation, the interested parties may file for response at the Bureau of Industry Injury Investigation of the Ministry of Commerce within 20 days as of the date of issuance of this Announcement, and provide explanatory materials concerning production capacity, output, inventory, construction and expansion plan during the period of industry injury investigation, as well as the quantities and amounts of products under investigation which have been exported to China. The Application Form of Participation in Industry Injury Investigation for the Perchlorethylene Anti-dumping Case is available in the column “Filing for Response” on the website of China Trade Remedy Information (website: http://www.cacs.gov.cn).

IV. Rights of Interested Parties

The interested parties may download unclassified text of the application submitted by the Applicants in this case from the column ‘Case Status’ of thewebsite of Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports, sub web of the Ministry of Commerce, or view the same in the Search Room for public information concerning trade remedies of the Ministry of Commerce (tel: 86-10-65197878).

In case the interested parties have any objection to the product range, the Applicants’ qualification, countries under investigation and other relevant matters regarding the investigation, they may submit their opinions in writing to the Ministry of Commerce within the above registered period of response.

V. Methods of Investigation

The investigation authority may inquire relevant interested parties and carry out the investigation in such ways as questionnaire, sampling, hearing and on-site inspection.
Relevant information concerning the abovementioned industry injury investigation in this case are available on the website of China Trade Remedy Information.

VI. Questionnaire

(I) Questionnaire on Dumping of Perchlorethylene in the Anti-dumping Case

Within ten business days upon expiration of the registered response as specified in this Announcement, the Ministry of Commerce will distribute the Questionnaire to the registered responding company and other companies listed in the application. The Questionnaire consists of such matters as organization and operation of the company, products under investigation, export sales to China, domestic (regional) sales, export sales to other countries (regions) other than China, production cost and relevant expenses, estimated dumping margin, the checklist and other contents. The Questionnaire on Dumping of Perchlorethylene in the Anti-dumping Case is available in the column “Case Status” of website of Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports, sub web of the Ministry of Commerce. Other companies that are not registered for the response may directly download or ask the Ministry of Commerce for the Questionnaire and then complete and submit the same as required.

All the above mentioned companies shall submit their answers to the Questionnaire in a complete and accurate manner within the specified period of time, which shall contain all the information required by the Questionnaire and shall be return to the Ministry of Commerce within 37 days as of distribution of the Questionnaire. Responding companies showing that they cannot complete the Questionnaire by the expiry date with just causes shall, seven days prior to the deadline of submitting the answers, submit a written application to the Ministry of Commerce for an extension stating the request of extension and reasons.

For responding companies that fail to submit their answers or fail to submit complete and accurate answers as required within the specified period of time, or refuse the Ministry of Commerce to verify the information provided by them, or seriously impede the investigation in other ways, the Ministry of Commerce may make a decision based on obtained facts and best available information in accordance with Article 21 of the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping.

(II) Questionnaire on Industry Injuries in the Anti-dumping Case Against Perchlorethylene
Relevant notices on the Questionnaire on industry injuries are available on the website of China Trade Remedy Information.

VII. Starting from May 31, 2013, the investigation will be finished by May 31, 2014 in normal circumstances, and can be extended to November 30, 2014 in case of special circumstances.

VIII. Address of the Ministry of Commerce
No. 2, Dong Chang’an Avenue, Beijing
Zip code: 100731

Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports of the Ministry of Commerce
Tel: 86-10-65198412 65198420
Fax: 86-10-65198172

Bureau of Industry Injury Investigation of the Ministry of Commerce
Tel: 86-10-65198964 65198070 65198054
Fax: 86-10-65197583