US Sets Import Duties on Chinese Chlorination Chemicals

The US has set steep import duties on Chinese chemicals used in sanitizing water after finding the products were being sold too cheaply.

In a preliminary decision, the Department of Commerce set anti-dumping duties of 210.52% on Chinese imports of calcium hypochlorite, used in chlorinating and sanitizing water.

Companies expected to be hit by the duties include China Petrochemical International, a subsidiary of Sinopec, Tianjin Jinbin International Trade and Wuhan Rui Sunny Chemical Co.

The complaint was brought by Arch Chemicals, a subsidiary of Swiss chemical producer Lonza. In 2013, imports of calcium hypochlorite from China to the US were valued at around $8.1 million.

The decision is subject to final rulings from the commerce department, due by Nov. 28, 2014 and the US International Trade Commission, due by Jan. 12, 2015.