WASHINGTON—The U.S. International Trade Commission has determined there is "reasonable indication" the U.S. industry is materially injured by imports of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) from France, Korea and Mexico.
In an Aug. 13 announcement, the ITC said it had instructed the U.S. Department of Commerce to continue its investigations into the subject, with preliminary antidumping duty determinations expected on or about Dec. 7.
The ITC investigation was carried out in response to a June 30 petition by Louisville, Ky.-based Zeon Chemicals LP.
NBR in the latex form is excluded from the scope of this investigation.
Also excluded from the scope of this investigation is:
- NBR containing additives (e.g. nitrile rubber further compounded with fillers, reinforcement agents or vulcanization agents);
- NBR containing rubber processing chemicals, NBR containing other materials used for further processing beyond the polymerization process; and
- Hydrogenated NBR (HNBR) produced by subsequent dissolution and hydrogenation of NBR.
In its petition, Zeon listed Kuhmo Petrochemical and LG Chemical Ltd. as known producers of the NBR in South Korea, Dynasol Group's INSA in Mexico and Arlanxeo in France.