The U.S. International Trade Commission determined in a preliminary finding that U.S. industry is materially injured by imports of hydrofluorocarbon blends and components from China.

As a result, the U.S. Department of Commerce will proceed with an antidumping (AD) investigation.

The petitioners for this investigation are the American HFC Coalition and its individual members, Amtrol Inc. of Rhode Island, Arkema Inc. of Pennsylvania, The Chemours Company of Delware, Honeywell International Inc. of New Jersey, Hudson Technologies of New York, Mexichem Fluor Inc. of Louisiana, and Worthington Industries, Inc. of Ohio.

District Lodge 154 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers also joined the petition.

The Department of Commerce initiated the AD investigation in July.

Under U.S. law, dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value.

The products subject to this investigation are blended hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and single HFC components of those blends.

Imports from China of hydrofluorocarbon blends and single hydrofluorocarbon components increased in volume but decreased in value between 2012 and 2104, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. In 2012, imports totaled 28,300 tons valued at $130 million. In 2014, 34,200 tons were imported with a value of $109.5 million.

The DOC is scheduled to issue its AD determination in early December.