Announcement on Launching a Final Review Investigation into the Application of Anti dumping Measures to Imports of Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Originating from South Korea, Japan, and South Africa

        On March 19, 2018, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 27 of 2018, imposing anti-dumping duties on imports of methyl isobutyl ketone originating in South Korea, Japan, and South Africa. This measure will expire on March 19, 2023. Currently, the corporate tax rate in South Korea is 18.5% – 32.3%, the corporate tax rate in Japan is 45.0% – 190.4%, and the corporate tax rate in South Africa is 15.9% – 34.1%.

        On January 19, 2023, the Ministry of Commerce received anti-dumping final review applications submitted by PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Company and Ningbo Zhenyang Chemical Development Co., Ltd. on behalf of the domestic industry. The applicant claims that if the anti-dumping measures are terminated, the dumping of methyl isobutyl ketone imported from South Korea, Japan, and South Africa against China may continue or reoccur, and the damage caused to Chinese industry may continue or reoccur. The applicant requests the Ministry of Commerce to conduct a final review investigation of the anti-dumping measures applicable to methyl isobutyl ketone imported from South Korea, Japan, and South Africa, and maintain a review of the anti-dumping measures applied to methyl isobutyl ketone imported from South Korea, Japan, and South Africa Anti dumping measures against imports of methyl isobutyl ketone from Japan and South Africa.

        In accordance with the relevant provisions of the “Anti dumping Regulations of the People’s Republic of China”, the Ministry of Commerce has conducted a review of the applicant’s qualifications, the relevant information about the investigated products and similar Chinese products, the import situation of the investigated products during the implementation of anti-dumping measures, the possibility of the continuation or recurrence of dumping, the possibility of the continuation or recurrence of injury, and relevant evidence. The existing evidence indicates 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 industry representation, and is qualified to apply on behalf of the Chinese methyl isobutyl (methyl) ketone industry. The investigating authority believes that the claims of the applicant and the prima facie evidence submitted meet the requirements for final review and filing.

        According to 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 on the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of methyl isobutyl ketone originating in South Korea, Japan, and South Africa from March 20, 2023. Relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

        I. Continue to apply anti-dumping measures

        According to the proposal of the Ministry of Commerce, the Tariff and Tariff Commission of the State Council has decided to continue to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of methyl isobutyl ketone originating in South Korea, Japan, and South Africa during the investigation of the final review of anti-dumping measures in accordance with the scope and tax rate of the taxable products announced by the Ministry of Commerce in Announcement No. 27 of 2018.

        The anti-dumping duty rates imposed on companies are as follows:

        Korean companies:

        1. Jinhu P& B Chemical Co., Ltd. 18.5%

        (KUMHO P&B CHEMICALS, INC.)

        Other Korean companies 32.3%

        Japanese companies:

        1. Mitsui Chemical Co., Ltd. 45.0%

        (Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.)

        Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd. 47.8%

        (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation)

        3. Other Japanese companies 190.4%

        South African company:

        1. Sasso South Africa Limited 15.9%

        (Sasol South Africa (Pty) Ltd.)

        2. Other South African companies 34.1%

        II. Review investigation period

        The dumping investigation period for this review is from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, and the industrial injury investigation period is from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022.

        III. Review and investigate the product range

        The scope of products for review is the products to which the original anti-dumping measures apply, consistent with the scope of products to which the anti-dumping measures are applicable, as announced in Announcement No. 27 of the Ministry of Commerce in 2018. The details are as follows:

        Product name: Methyl isobutyl ketone.

        Chemical name: 4-methyl-2-pentanone

        English name:Methyl Isobutyl Ketone; 4-Methyl-2-Pentanone

        Chemical molecular formula:C6H12O

        Chemical structural formula:

        CH3      O

        |            ‖

        CH3-CH-CH2-C-CH3

        Product Description: Methyl isobutyl ketone is a colorless, transparent, flammable liquid with a camphor like odor. Slightly soluble in water, miscible with organic solvents such as phenols, ethers, aldehydes, animal and vegetable oils, and mineral oils.

        Main uses: Methyl isobutyl ketone is an excellent medium boiling point solvent and organic synthesis raw material, with a wide range of uses. In terms of solvents, they are mainly used in coatings, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, solvent dewaxing solvents, rare metal extractants, magnetic tapes, inks, epoxy resins, adhesives, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and other fields. They can also be used as solvents in the production of advanced automotive paints, marine paints, container paints, and other coatings; In terms of organic synthesis raw materials, methyl isobutyl ketone is a raw material for synthetic rubber antioxidant 4020, methyl isobutyl methanol, polymer initiator, latent curing agent for epoxy resin, special surfactant, etc.

        This product is classified under Item 29141300 of the Import and Export Tariff of the People’s Republic of China.

        IV. Review content

        The content of this review investigation is whether the termination of anti-dumping measures against imports of methyl isobutyl ketone originating in South Korea, Japan, and South Africa may lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury.

        V. Register for the survey

        Interested parties may register with the Trade Remedy Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce to participate in this anti-dumping final review investigation within 20 days from the date of this announcement. The interested parties participating in the investigation shall provide basic identification information, the quantity and amount of the products under investigation exported or imported to China, the quantity and amount of similar products produced and sold, and related information in accordance with the Reference Format for Registration to Participate in the Investigation. The “Reference Format for Registration to Participate in the Investigation” can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Commerce and the website of the Bureau of Trade Remedy Investigation.

        Interested parties who register to participate in this anti-dumping investigation should submit an electronic version through the “Information Platform for Trade Remedy Investigation”, and submit a written version in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Commerce. The electronic version and the written version should have the same content and 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 “.

        VI. Access to public information

        Interested parties may download, read, transcribe, and copy the unclassified text of the application submitted by the applicant in this case from the sub website of the Bureau of Trade Remedy Investigation of the Ministry of Commerce or the Trade Remedy Public Information Reference Room of the Ministry of Commerce. During the investigation process, interested parties can search, read, transcribe, and copy the public information of the case through relevant websites or the Trade Remedy Public Information Reference Room of the Ministry of Commerce.

        VII. Comments on filing

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

        VIII. Investigation method

        According to Article 20 of the “Anti dumping Regulations of the People’s Republic of China”, the Ministry of Commerce may use questionnaires, sampling, hearings, on-site inspections, and other methods to obtain information from relevant interested parties and conduct investigations.

        In order to obtain the information required for the investigation of this case, the Ministry of Commerce usually issues a questionnaire to interested parties within 10 working days from the deadline for registration and participation in the investigation specified in this announcement. Interested parties can download the questionnaire from the website of the Trade Remedy Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce.

        Stakeholders should submit complete and accurate responses within the prescribed time. The answer sheet should include all the information required by the questionnaire.

        IX. Submission and processing of information

        Interested parties submitting comments, responses, etc. during the investigation process should submit an electronic version through the “Trade Remedy Investigation Information Platform”, and submit a written version in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Commerce. The electronic version and the written version should have the same content and consistent format.

        If the information submitted by interested parties to the Ministry of Commerce needs to be kept confidential, they can submit a request to the Ministry of Commerce for confidential treatment of the relevant information and explain the reasons. If the Ministry of Commerce 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 interested parties to have a reasonable understanding of the confidential information. If a non confidential summary cannot be provided, reasons should be provided. If the information submitted by interested parties does not indicate the need for confidentiality, the Ministry of Commerce will treat the information as public information.

        X. Consequences of non cooperation

        According to Article 21 of the “Anti dumping Regulations of the People’s Republic of China”, when the Ministry of Commerce conducts an investigation, interested parties should truthfully reflect the situation and provide relevant information. “If an interested party fails to truthfully report the situation or provide relevant information, or fails to provide necessary information within a reasonable time, or seriously obstructs the investigation in other ways, the Ministry of Commerce may make a ruling based on the facts already obtained and the best information available.”

        XI. Investigation period

        This investigation began on March 20, 2023, and should be completed before (excluding) March 20, 2024.

Article source：Xiao er of customs affairs