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MOFCOM Announcement No. 29 of 2015 on Preliminary Ruling of Anti-dumping Investigation against Imports of Methyl Methacrylate Originated in Singapore, Thailand and Japan

In accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Anti-dumping (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations on Anti-dumping”), on August 8, 2014, the Ministry of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as “the Investigation Authority”) issued the Announcement No. 53 of 2014, under which the Investigation Authority decided to make anti-dumping investigations against imports of methyl methacrylate originated in Singapore, Thailand and Japan (hereinafter referred to as “the Investigated Product”).

The Investigation Authority has investigated whether the Investigated Product is dumped and dumping margin, whether the Investigated Product damages domestic industry and the degree of damage, as well as the causality between dumping and damage. According to investigation results and Article 24 of the Regulations on Anti-dumping, the Investigation Authority has made the preliminary ruling (see appendix). Relevant matters are hereby announced as below:

I. Preliminary Ruling

The Investigation Authority preliminarily ruled that imports of methyl methacrylate originated in Singapore, Thailand and Japan were involved in dumping, substantially damaging China’s methyl methacrylate industry, and there was causality between the dumping and substantial damages.

II. Collection of Deposits

According to Articles 28 and 29 of the Regulations on Anti-dumping, the Investigation Authority has decided to take temporary anti-dumping measures in the form of deposits. As of August 1, 2015, in importing the Investigated Product, importers shall provide corresponding deposits for the customs of the People’s Republic of China as per the deposit rates for all the companies determined by the preliminary ruling.

The Investigated Product is definitely described as below:
Chinese name of the Investigated Product: 甲基丙烯酸甲酯, English name: methyl methacrylate (MMA).
Molecular formula: C5H8O2
Chemical structural formula:

Physical and chemical characteristics: colorless liquid, volatile and inflammable; melting point of -48°C, boiling point of 100-101°C, 24°C (4.3kPa), relative density of 0.9440 (20/4°C), refractive index of 1.4142, flash point (open-cup) of 10°C, and vapour pressure of (25.5°C) 5.33kPa.; soluble in many organic solvents such as ethanol, diethyl ether and acetone, and slightly soluble in glycol and water; and, easily polymerizing with optical, thermal and ionizing radiations and catalysts.

Main purposes: Methyl methacrylate, as an important organic chemical material, is mainly used to synthesize organic glass (polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)). It can also be used to synthesize other resins, plastics, coating, adhesives, modifiers, rubber plasticizers, textile sizing agents, waterproof agents, lubricants, impregnating compounds for wood and cork wood, penetrating agents for motor coils, ion exchange resins, leather treating agents, paper lustering agents, printing and dyeing auxiliaries, artificial marbles, insulating pouring materials and so on.
The said product is included into tariff code: 29161400 in the Customs Import and Export Tariff of the People’s Republic of China. Products other than methyl methacrylate under the tariff code are not within the investigation scope.
The deposit rates for all the companies are as follows:

Singaporean companies:
1. Lucite International Singapore Pte. Ltd. 6.8%
2. Sumitomo Chemical Singapore Pte Ltd 14.5%
3. All others 6.8%
Thai companies:
1. Thai MMA Co., Ltd. 15.2%
2. PTT Asahi Chemical Company Limited 10.7%
3. All others 15.2%

Japanese companies:
1. Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. 14.4%
2. Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation 12.2%
3. Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited 13.3%
4. Kuraray Co., Ltd. 34.6%
5. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc. 34.6%
6. Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. 34.6%
7. All others 14.4%

III. Collection Method of Deposits

As of August 1, 2015, in importing methyl methacrylate originated in Singapore, Thailand and Japan, importers shall provide deposits for the customs of the People’s Republic of China according to the dumping margins of all the companies determined by the preliminary ruling. The deposits shall be levied by means of ad valorem as per the duty-paid prices examined and approved by the customs, and the calculation formula thereof is: deposits = (duty-paid price examined and approved by the customs x deposit rate) x (1 + value-added tax rate in import link).

IV. Comments and Submission of New Evidence

Within 20 days after the issue of the Announcement No. 29 of 2015, all interested parties may make comments and submit relevant evidences to the Investigation Authority. Owing to the restriction of investigation time, the Investigation Authority will not consider the evidences submitted beyond the periods set out in questionnaires (including supplementary questionnaires) and the Announcement No. 29 of 2015.

Appendix: MOFCOM Preliminary Ruling of Anti-dumping Investigation against Imports of Methyl Methacrylate Originated in Singapore, Thailand and Japan

The Ministry of Commerce

           July 24, 2015

Translated by Hou Zuowei

 

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