MOFCOM Announcement: Announcement of Preliminary Determination of Anti-Dumping Investigation on Imports of Ethanolamine originating from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand

　　In accordance with the provisions of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Anti-Dumping (hereinafter referred to as the "Anti-Dumping Regulations"), on October 30, 2017, the Ministry of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as the investigating authority) issued Notice No. 67 of 2017, deciding to conduct an anti-dumping investigation into imports of ethanolamine originating from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand (i.e., the product under investigation).

　　The investigating authority investigated whether dumping and the margin of dumping existed for the investigated products, whether the investigated products caused damage to the domestic ethanolamine industry and the extent of damage, and the causal relationship between dumping and damage. According to the investigation results and the provisions of Article 24 of the Anti-Dumping Regulations, the investigating authority made a preliminary ruling (see annex). The relevant matters are announced as follows.

　　I. Preliminary ruling

　　The investigating authority preliminarily found that imports of ethanolamine originating from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand were dumped, the domestic ethanolamine industry was substantially damaged, and there is a causal relationship between dumping and substantial damage.

　　Second, the imposition of margin

　　According to the provisions of Article 28 and Article 29 of the Anti-Dumping Regulations, the investigating authority decided to implement provisional anti-dumping measures in the form of a deposit. Since June 23, 2018, import operators shall provide the corresponding margin to the Customs of the People's Republic of China when importing the investigated products based on the margin rate of each company as determined by this preliminary ruling decision.

　　The specific descriptions of the products under investigation are as follows.

　　Scope of investigation: Imported ethanolamine originating from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand.

　　Name of the product under investigation: Ethanolamines (including: monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine), the English name is Ethanolamines, abbreviated as EA.

　　Monoethanolamine, also known as: monoethanolamine, 2-aminoethanol, 2-hydroxyethylamine

　　English name: Monoethanolamine, 2-Aminoethanol, 2-Aminoethyl alcoho (abbreviation: MEA)

　　Chemical molecular formula: H2NCH2CH2OH

　　Structural formula.

　　Diethanolamine, also known as: 2,2'-dihydroxydiethylamine, 2,2'-iminodiethanol

　　English name: Diethanolamine,2, 2'-Dihydroxydiethylamine, 2,2'-Iminodiethanol (abbreviation: DEA)

　　Chemical formula: HN(CH2CH2OH)2

　　Structural formula.

　　Triethanolamine, also known as: tris(2-hydroxyethyl)amine, trihydroxytriethylamine

　　English name: Triethanolamine, Tris(2-Hydroxyethyl) amine, Trihydroxytriethylamine (abbreviation: TEA)

　　Chemical molecular formula: (HOC2H4)3N

　　Structural formula.

　　Physical and chemical properties: Ethanolamine is the general name of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine, usually produced by the reaction of ethylene oxide and liquid ammonia, is an alcohol-amine organic compound with some common chemical characteristics of both amines and alcohols. The appearance of ethanolamine is usually colorless to light yellow transparent liquid, below the solubility point is colorless to light yellow solid, slightly amine smell, hygroscopic, soluble in water, ethanol, etc., slightly soluble in benzene, ether, etc.

　　Main uses: Ethanolamine is mainly used in the production of surfactants, pesticides and pharmaceutical intermediates, daily chemicals and personal hygiene products. It is also used as raw material to make emulsifier, fluorescent whitening agent VBL, oil refining (acid) gas treatment agent, cement grinding aid, cutting fluid, water reducing agent, industrial antifreeze, petroleum additive, leather softener, lubricant anti-corrosion agent, anti-carbon additive, etc. It is widely used in industrial cleaning, gas purification, pesticide and pharmaceutical, daily chemical, textile printing and dyeing, construction and building materials, metal processing and other industries.

　　The product is classified under the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China: 29221100, 29221200 and 29221310 (29221310 adjusted to 29221500 from 2017). The product scope of this investigation does not include monoethanolamine salts under 29221100 and diethanolamine salts under 29221200.

　　The margin rates levied on the companies are as follows.

　　Companies in the United States.

　　1. Dow Chemical Company 75.3%

　　(The Dow Chemical Company)

　　2. INEOS Americas, Inc. 97.3%

　　(INEOS Americas LLC)

　　3. Huntsman Petrochemicals Ltd. 97.3%

　　(Huntsman Petrochemical LLC)

　　4. All Others 97.3% (All Others)

　　Companies in Saudi Arabia.

　　1. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation 11.7%

　　(Saudi Basic Industries Corporation)