Commerce Says Chinese Fertilizer was Dumped in US

Ammonium sulfate from China has been dumped on the U.S. market, according to a determination by the U.S. Commerce Department announced January 18.The determination brings the fertilizer imports a step closer to facing substantial trade remedy duties. According to Commerce, the imports from China were worth an estimated $62 million in 2015.Commerce found the imports were dumped in the U.S. at a margin of 493.46%. If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) finds the imports materially injure or threaten the domestic industry, antidumping duties will be imposed in line with that margin.Domestic US fertilizer producers PCI Nitrogen LLC and AdvanSix Inc., and the United Steelworkers union, requested both antidumping and countervailing duties on the Chinese fertilizer imports. They contend the Chinese government provided domestic producers with subsidies in the form of preferential loans, tax benefits, freight discounts and cheap inputs.If imposed, duties would apply to Chinese producers, exporters, and U.S. importers. ITC is expected to make its final injury determination by March 3.