The American HFC Coalition Applauds the President's Efforts to Collect Unpaid Antidumping Duties and Enforce U.S. Trade Laws

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The American HFC Coalition strongly endorses the President's Executive Order directing Customs and Border Protection to examine the use of extra bonding requirements and other measures to address non-payment of antidumping duties.  The order also directs the Attorney General to prioritize the prosecution of trade law violators.  The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed antidumping duties on imports of Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from China (November 2016) and R-134a from China (pending publication in April 2017).  Having obtained these antidumping orders, it is critical that the duties be imposed and collected.

The American HFC Coalition has already uncovered significant evidence that unscrupulous importers are avoiding antidumping duties and continue to sell HFC refrigerants from China at unfairly low prices.  Requiring these importers to fully comply with U.S. law is the only way to remedy the impact of unfairly traded goods on U.S. manufacturers and their workers.

In the case of HFC Blends and R-134a, certain importers have avoided payment of antidumping duties by misstating the country of origin of imported goods, importing HFC blends or R-134a under an incorrect tariff heading, and other fraudulent practices.  Stepped up bonding requirements help ensure that importers cannot simply exit the market when CBP sends bills for antidumping or countervailing duties.  Such requirements also ensure that importers cannot continue to sell at unfair prices despite the imposition of duties.

Under current law, relief is too often delayed even though the U.S. government has determined that dumped or subsidized imports are causing material injury to U.S. industry and workers.  For example, importers will build huge inventories before duties are imposed and then continue to sell at unfairly low prices even after antidumping duties are imposed.

Friday's announcement signals that the Administration intends to enforce U.S. law vigorously.  Congress has long sought to provide relief from unfairly traded imports as soon as possible.  As such, the executive order is a positive step to restore conditions of fair trade in the market.

Media Contact: 
James Cannon
1-202-567-2318

SOURCE The American HFC Coalition