Ministry of Commerce: We will conduct a final review investigation of anti-dumping measures applicable to POM originating in South Korea and other countries

On October 23, the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement
on the final review investigation of anti-dumping measures applicable to imported copolymer acetaldehyde originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.
The announcement reads:

On October 23, 2017, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No.
61 of 2017 to impose anti-dumping duties on imported copolymer acetal originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia, and the measure will expire
on October 23, 2022 after a name change review.
At present, South Korea's corporate tax rate is 6.
2%-30.
4%, Thailand's corporate tax rate is 18.
5%-34.
9%, and Malaysia's corporate tax rate is 8.
0%-9.
5%.

On July 12, 2022, MOFCOM received an application for final review of anti-dumping measures submitted by Yunnan Yuntianhua Co.
, Ltd.
, Ningxia Coal Industry Co.
, Ltd.
, National Energy Group Ningxia Coal Industry Co.
, Ltd.
, Kaifeng Longyu Chemical Co.
, Ltd.
, Yankuang Lunan Chemical Co.
, Ltd.
, Tangshan Zhonghao Chemical Co.
, Ltd.
and CNOOC Amano Chemical Co.
, Ltd
.
on behalf of the domestic industry 。 The applicant claimed that if the anti-dumping measures were terminated, the dumping of imported copolymer formaldehyde originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia in China might continue or reoccur, and the damage caused to Chinese industries might continue or reoccur, and requested the Ministry of Commerce to conduct a final review investigation of imported copolymer acetaldehyde originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia, and to maintain the anti-dumping measures
on imported copolymer formaldehyde originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, MOFCOM reviewed the applicant's qualifications, the relevant situation of the products under investigation and similar products in China, the import of the products under investigation during the implementation of anti-dumping measures, the possibility of continued or reoccurrence of dumping, the possibility of continued or reoccurrence of damage, and relevant evidence
.
The available evidence shows that the applicant meets the provisions of Articles 11, 13 and 17 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China on industry and industrial representation, and is eligible to apply
on behalf of China's copolymer acetal industry.
The investigating authority held that the applicant's claims and the prima facie evidence submitted met the requirements for filing a case for
a final review.

In accordance with Article 48 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce has decided to conduct a final review investigation
of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imported acetal acetal originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia from October 24, 2022.
The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

1.
Continue to implement anti-dumping measures

According to the proposal of the Ministry of Commerce, the Tariff Commission of the State Council decided that during the final review and investigation of anti-dumping measures, the import copolymer acetaldehyde originating in South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia will continue to be subject to anti-dumping duties
in accordance with the scope and tax rate of the taxed products announced by the Ministry of Commerce announced in the annex.

The rates of anti-dumping duties levied on companies are as follows:

Korean Company:

1.
Korea Engineering Plastics Co.
, Ltd.
30.
0%

(KOREA ENGINEERING PLASTICSCO.
,LTD.
)

2.
Kolon Plastics Co.
, Ltd.
6.
2%

(KOLON PLASTICS, INC.
)

3.
Other Korean companies 30.
4%

(All others)

Thai Company:

1.
Thailand POM Co.
, Ltd.
18.
5%

(THAI POLYACETAL CO.
, LTD.
)

2.
Other Thai companies 34.
9%

(All others)

Malaysia Company:

1.
Polyplastics Asia Pacific 8.
0%

(Polyplastics Asia Pacific Sdn.
Bhd.
)

2.
Other Malaysian companies 9.
5%

(All others)

2.
Review and investigation period

The dumping investigation period for this review is from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, and the industrial injury investigation period is from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022
.

3.
Review the scope of investigation products

The scope of the products under review is the product to which the original anti-dumping measures apply, which is consistent with the scope of products to which the anti-dumping measures announced by the Ministry of Commerce announced in the annex are as follows:

Product name: copolymer acetaldehyde, also known as polyoxymethylene copolymer, or polyoxymethylene oxide copolymer.

English name: Polyformaldehyde Copolymer, or Polyoxymethylene Copolymer, or Copolymer-type Acetal Resin, or Acetal Copolymer, etc.
, the English name is often referred to as POM Copolymer
.

Chemical formula: -[CH2-O]n-[CH2-O-CH2-CH2]m-(n>m).

Physical and chemical properties: copolymer acetal is synthesized from formaldehyde, with -CH2-O- backbone and -[CH2-O-CH2-CH2]-embedded bond (-CH2-O- content greater than 50% by weight) thermoplastic resin, usually milky white or light yellow granular solid at room temperature, and at the same time meet the following performance indicators:

Main uses: copolymer acetaldehyde has high mechanical strength, high fatigue resistance, high creep resistance and other good mechanical comprehensive properties, can partially replace copper, zinc, tin, lead and other metal materials, can be directly used or modified for auto parts, electronic appliances, industrial machinery, daily necessities, sports equipment, medical equipment, pipeline fittings, building materials and other fields
.

The product is classified in the Import and Export Tariff Rules of the People's Republic of China: 39071010, 39071090
.
Other products such as homopolymer and modified POM under these two tariff codes are not within the scope of the
products under investigation.

4.
Content of the review

The subject of this review investigation is whether the termination of anti-dumping measures on imported acetal originating in Korea, Thailand and Malaysia may lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury
.

5.
Register to participate in the survey

Within 20 days from the date of this announcement, interested parties may register with the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce to participate in this anti-dumping period final review investigation
.
The interested parties participating in the investigation shall provide basic identity information, the quantity and amount of the products under investigation exported or imported into China, the quantity and amount of similar products produced and sold, and the related circumstances in accordance with the Reference Format for Registration to Participate in the Investigation
.
The Reference Form for Registration for Participation in the Survey can be downloaded
from the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau sub-website of the website of the Ministry of Commerce.

Interested parties registering to participate in this anti-dumping investigation shall submit an electronic version through the "Trade Remedies Investigation Information Platform" (https://etrb.
mofcom.
gov.
cn), and submit a written version
at the same time according to the requirements of the Ministry of Commerce.
The electronic and written versions should be identical in content and in a consistent
format.

The interested parties mentioned in this announcement refer to the individuals and organizations
specified in Article 19 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China.

6.
Access to public information

Interested parties can download, read, copy and copy the non-confidential text
of the application submitted by the applicant in this case by downloading it from the sub-website of the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce or going to the Trade Remedy Public Information Consultation Office of the Ministry of Commerce (Tel: 0086-10-65197878).
During the investigation, interested parties may search, read, copy and copy the public information
of the case through the relevant website or go to the Trade Remedy Open Information Consultation Room of the Ministry of Commerce.

7.
Comments on the filing of the case

If interested parties need to comment on the product scope and applicant qualifications of this survey, the country (region) under investigation and other relevant issues, they may submit their written comments to the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau
of the Ministry of Commerce within 20 days from the date of this announcement.

VIII.
Methods of Investigation

According to Article 20 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, MOFCOM may use questionnaires, sampling, hearings, on-site inspections, etc.
to learn about the situation from relevant stakeholders and conduct investigations
.

In order to obtain the information required for the investigation of this case, MOFCOM usually sends a questionnaire to interested parties within 10 working days from the deadline for registration to participate in the investigation stipulated in this announcement
.
Interested parties can download the questionnaire from the Trade Remedies Investigation Bureau sub-website of the website of the Ministry of Commerce
.

Interested parties shall submit complete and accurate answers within the specified time
.
The questionnaire shall include all the information
requested in the questionnaire.

9.
Submission and Processing of Information

Interested parties submitting comments, answers, etc.
during the investigation process shall submit electronic versions through the Trade Remedies Investigation Information Platform (https://etrb.
mofcom.
gov.
cn), and submit written versions
at the same time as required by the Ministry of Commerce.
The electronic and written versions should be identical in content and in a consistent
format.

If the information submitted by the interested party to the Ministry of Commerce needs to be kept confidential, it may submit a request to the Ministry of Commerce for the confidential treatment of the relevant information and explain the reasons
.
If MOFCOM agrees to its request, the interested party applying for confidentiality shall also provide a non-confidential summary of
the confidential information.
The non-confidential summary should contain sufficient meaningful information to enable other stakeholders to reasonably understand
the confidential information.
If a non-confidential summary cannot be provided, the reasons
shall be given.
If the information submitted by the interested party does not indicate that it needs to be kept confidential, MOFCOM will treat the information as public information
.

10.
Consequences of non-cooperation

According to Article 21 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, when MOFCOM conducts an investigation, the interested party shall truthfully reflect the situation and provide relevant information
.
Where an interested party misrepresents the situation, provides relevant information, or fails to provide necessary information within a reasonable time, or otherwise seriously obstructs the investigation, MOFCOM may make a ruling
based on the facts obtained and the best information available.

11.
Duration of investigation

This survey starts on October 24, 2022 and should be completed
by October 24, 2023 (inclusive).