- Effective Date: May 27, 2025
- Period of Review: Jan 01, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023
- Cite as: 90 FR 22235
Cite date: May 27, 2025
1.
On 05/27/2025, Commerce published in the Federal Register its countervailing duty order on certain epoxy resins from the Republic of Korea (90 FR 22235).
2.
The merchandise covered by this order is fully or partially uncured epoxy resins, also known as epoxide resins, polyepoxides, oxirane resins, ethoxyline resins, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol, (chloromethyl) oxirane, or aromatic diglycidyl, which are polymers or prepolymers containing epoxy groups (i.e., three-membered ring structures comprised of two carbon atoms and one oxygen atom). Epoxy resins range in physical form from low viscosity liquids to solids. All epoxy resins are covered by the scope of these orders irrespective of physical form, viscosity, grade, purity, molecular weight, or molecular structure, and packaging.
Epoxy resins may contain modifiers or additives, such as hardeners, curatives, colorants, pigments, diluents, solvents, thickeners, fillers, plasticizers, softeners, flame retardants, toughening agents, catalysts, Bisphenol F, and ultraviolet light inhibitors, so long as the modifier or additive has not chemically reacted so as to cure the epoxy resin or convert it into a different product no longer containing epoxy groups. Such epoxy resins with modifiers or additives are included in the scope where the epoxy resin component comprises no less than 30 percent of the total weight of the product. The scope also includes blends of epoxy resins with different types of epoxy resins, with or without the inclusion of modifiers and additives, so long as the combined epoxy resin component comprises at least 30 percent of the total weight of the blend.
Epoxy resins that enter as part of a system or kit with separately packaged co-reactants, such as hardeners or curing agents, are within the scope. The scope does not include any separately packaged co-reactants that would not fall within the scope if entered on their own.
The scope includes merchandise matching the above description that has been processed in a third country, including by commingling, diluting, introducing, or removing modifiers or additives, or performing any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the orders if performed in the subject country.
The scope also includes epoxy resin that is commingled or blended with epoxy resin from sources not subject to these orders. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of these orders. Excluded from the scope are phenoxy resins, which are polymers with a weight greater than 11,000 Daltons, a Melt Flow Index (MFI) at 200 °C (392 °F) no less than 4 grams and no greater than 70 grams per 10 min, Glass-Transition Temperatures (Tg) no less than 80 °C (176 °F) and no greater than 100 °C (212 °F), and which contain no epoxy groups other than at the terminal ends of the molecule.
Excluded from the scope are certain paint and coating products, which are blends, mixtures, or other formulations of epoxy resin, curing agent, and pigment, in any form, packaged in one or more containers, wherein (1) the pigment represents a minimum of 10 percent of the total weight of the product, (2) the epoxy resin represents a maximum of 80 percent of the total weight of the product, and (3) the curing agent represents 5 to 40 percent of the total weight of the product.
Excluded from the scope are preimpregnated fabrics or fibers, often referred to as ''pre-pregs,'' which are composite materials consisting of fabrics or fibers (typically carbon or glass) impregnated with epoxy resin.
Also excluded from the scope is Tetramethyl Bisphenol F Diglycidyl Ether epoxy resin, also known as Tetramethyl Bisphenol F-DGE Polymer (TMBPF-DGE), that (1) has the chemical name: phenol, 4, 4′- methylenebis[2,6-dimethyl-, polymer with 2- (chloromethyl)oxirane, (2) falls under Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) Registry Number 113693-69-9, and (3) has an epoxy equivalent weight (EEW), also referred to as the weight per epoxide (WPE), of no less than 200 and no greater than 230 grams of epoxy resin per epoxy equivalent (g/eq or GEW).*
This merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 3907.30.0000. Subject merchandise may also be entered under subheadings 3907.29.0000, 3824.99.9397, 3214.10.0020, 2910.90.9100, 2910.90.9000, 2910.90.2000, and 1518.00.4000. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
*The bracket in this sentence is part of the chemical formula and does not denote business proprietary information.
3.
For imports of certain epoxy resins from the Republic of Korea, CBP shall continue to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 05/22/2025 (date of publication of the International Trade Commission final determination in the Federal Register).
Producer and/or Exporter: All-Others
Case Number:
C-580-920-000
Cash Deposit/Subsidy Rate:
1.30 percent
Producer and/or Exporter: Kukdo Chemical Co., Ltd. and its cross-owned company Kukdo Finechem Co., Ltd.
Case Number:
C-580-920-001
Cash Deposit/Subsidy Rate:
1.01 percent
Producer and/or Exporter: Kumho P&B Chemicals Inc. and its cross-owned companies Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd. and Chemoil Corporation.
Case Number:
C-580-920-002
Cash Deposit/Subsidy Rate:
1.84 percent
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 OIV: BB)
5.
There are no restrictions on the release of this information.
Alexander Amdur