• Effective Date: Mar 31, 2020
  • Period of Review: Jan 01, 2018 to Dec 31, 2018
  • Cite as: 85 FR 17866 • Cite date: Mar 31, 2020

1. On 03/31/2020, Commerce published in the Federal Register its antidumping duty order on acetone from the Republic of South Africa (85 FR 17866)

2. The merchandise covered by this order is all grades of liquid or aqueous acetone. Acetone is also known under the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name propan-2-one. In addition to the IUPAC name, acetone is also referred to as B-ketopropane (or beta-ketopropane), ketone propane, methyl ketone, dimethyl ketone, DMK, dimethyl carbonyl, propanone, 2-propanone, dimethyl formaldehyde, pyroacetic acid, pyroacetic ether, and pyroacetic spirit. Acetone is an isomer of the chemical formula C3H6O, with a specific molecular formula of CH3COCH3 or (CH3)2CO.

The scope covers both pure acetone (with or without impurities) and acetone that is combined or mixed with other products, including, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, benzene, diethyl ether, methanol, chloroform, and ethanol. Acetone that has been combined with other products is included within the scope, regardless of whether the combining occurs in third countries.

The scope also includes acetone that is commingled with acetone from sources not subject to this order.

For combined and commingled products, only the acetone component is covered by the scope of this order. However, when acetone is combined with acetone components from sources not subject to this investigation, those third country acetone components may still be subject to other acetone orders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing language, an acetone combination or mixture that is transformed through a chemical reaction into another product, such that, for example, the acetone can no longer be separated from the other products through a distillation process (e.g., methyl methacrylate (MMA) or Bisphenol A (BPA)), is excluded from this order.

A combination or mixture is excluded from this order if the total acetone component (regardless of the source or sources) comprises less than 5 percent of the combination or mixture, on a dry weight basis.

The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number for acetone is 67-64-1.

The merchandise covered by this order is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 2914.11.1000 and 2914.11.5000. Combinations or mixtures of acetone may enter under subheadings in Chapter 38 of the HTSUS, including, but not limited to, those under heading 3814.00.1000, 3814.00.2000, 3814.00.5010, and 3814.00.5090. The list of items found under these HTSUS subheadings is non-exhaustive. Although these HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.

3. Until further notice, for imports of acetone from the Republic of South Africa, CBP shall not suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 03/22/2020 (the date after provisional measures expired) in accordance with section 733(d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, because the provisional-measures period has expired and the International Trade Commission has not yet published its final determination concerning imports of this product from the Republic of South Africa in the Federal Register.

4. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OVII:CM)

5. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur