CF Industries Holdings Inc. on June 21 welcomed the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) final affirmative determinations in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of UAN imports from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago.
“Today’s final determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce represent an impartial application of U.S. law designed to ensure a level playing field for American industries competing against the unfair trade practices from state-subsidized entities underpinning UAN imports from both Russia and Trinidad for many years,” said Tony Will, CF President and CEO.
“These unfair trade practices have been thoroughly documented by U.S. government professionals during the process leading to today’s announcement. We believe this is an important step in the enforcement of longstanding U.S. trade rules to promote fair competition and in supporting a sustainable and reliable domestic UAN industry to serve American farmers,” he added.
DOC found that imports from Russia are dumped at rates ranging from 8.16% to 122.93%, and unfairly subsidized at rates ranging from 6.27% to 9.66%. In addition, DOC found that imports from Trinidad are dumped at a rate of 111.71% and unfairly subsidized at a rate of 1.83%.
However, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent government agency, is conducting a separate investigation to determine whether imports of UAN from Russia and Trinidad materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. UAN industry.
The ITC made an affirmative preliminary determination in August 2021 and is scheduled to make its final determination on July 18, 2022. If the ITC’s final determination is affirmative, then DOC will issue AD/CVD orders, which will remain in place for at least five years.
DOC and the ITC initiated their investigations in July 2021 in response to petitions filed by CF through certain of its production facilities.