Washington-The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on Nov. 6 announced its determinations in its preliminary phase antidumping and countervailing duty cases concerning imports of certain sodium and potassium phosphate salts from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations regarding dipotassium phosphate (DKP), tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP), and monopotassium phosphate (MKP), the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will continue to conduct its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of these products from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about Dec. 18, 2009, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about March 3, 2010. With respect to sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), the Commission made negative determinations and will not be sending that case on to DOC. ICL Performance Products LP of St. Louis, Mo., and Prayon Inc. of Augusta, Ga., were the petitioners that instigated the investigation. ICL is a unit of Israel Chemicals Ltd. Prayon is a unit of Prayon Group, which has two joint core shareholders ?Çô Morocco’s Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP) and the Wallonia Regional Investment Company (SRIW) – as well as 20 companies operating mainly in the phosphate chemicals industry. According to the USITC, there are three producers in the U.S., with plants in Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, and Ohio. However, PotashCorp produces two of the four products – TKPP and MKP and New Jersey-based Innophos Holdings, Inc. said it produces three of the products – DKP, TKPP, and STPP – though not necessarily all at U.S. plants, as it also has production in Mexico. The products covered by these investigations are salts of phosphoric acid, H3PO4, and as such these chemical products are labeled phosphates. The phosphate salts at issue in this proceeding are sold primarily as either technical or food grade. STPP is used in industrial and institutional cleaning products, where it functions as a builder enhancing the cleansing ability of the product. TKPP is used in liquid cleaning products and in potable and industrial water treatment, where it acts to prevent scaling. MKP is used as a fertilizer and as a stabilizer. DKP is also used as a fertilizer and as a food additive. The Commission’s public report, “Certain Sodium and Potassium Phosphate Salts from China,” (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-473 and 731-TA-1173 [Preliminary], USITC Publication 4110, November 2009) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations. Copies of the report are expected to be available after Dec. 8, 2009, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain