Sodium Nitrite from China and Germany Injures US Industry, Says ITC

Aug 11 - The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of sodium nitrite from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and imports of this product from China and Germany that Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the Department of Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from China and antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China and Germany.

The Commission's public report Sodium Nitrite from China and Germany (Investigation Nos. 701- TA-453 and 731-TA-1136-1137 (Final), USITC Publication 4029, August 2008) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Product Description: Sodium nitrite in any form, at any purity level. In addition, the sodium nitrite covered by these investigations may or may not contain an anti-caking agent. Examples of names commonly used to reference sodium nitrite are nitrous acid, sodium salt, anti-rust, diazotizing salts, erinitrit, and filmerine. Sodium nitrite's chemical composition is NaNO2. The American Chemical Society Chemical Abstract Service ("CAS") has assigned the name "Sodium Nitrite." The CAS registry number is 7632-00-0.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations: Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioner: General Chemical LLC.
3.  Institution of investigations by the USITC: November 8, 2007. 
4.  Commission's hearing: July 2, 2008.
5.  USITC vote: August 11, 2008.
6.  USITC determination and views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: August 20, 2008.

U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers in 2007: One.
2.  Location of producer's plant: Solvay, NY.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2007: (1)
4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 2007: (1)
5.  Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2007: (1)

U.S. Imports:

1.  From the subject countries during 2007:  $3.2 million.
2.  From other countries during 2007:  $113,000.
3.  Leading sources during 2007: Germany and China (in terms of total value).

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.