Arch Chemicals Files Petition to Initiate Chinese Calcium Hypochlorite Antidumping

19 Dec 2013 --- Arch Chemicals, Inc., a Lonza company, has filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission to initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations with respect to Chinese calcium hypochlorite. Calcium hypochlorite is a common sanitizer used in pools and spas and has a number of other uses. Lonza has filed the petition on behalf of the domestic industry.

The petition begins the process for imposing duties at the border to offset the advantage Chinese manufacturers have obtained in the market through unfair pricing and government subsidies.

“In recent years through aggressive tactics, the Chinese manufacturers have grabbed market share and threaten the viability of this product for us,” says Rick Walden, Senior Vice President. “We feel the petition is necessary in order to create fair competition that benefits all.”

Antidumping duties are designed to offset the advantage a foreign producer gains when it sells below the fair market value of a product, displacing the local production. Countervailing duties are designed to offset the unfair advantages foreign producers gain through the receipt of subsidies from their government, in contravention of treaty obligations.