China to review countervailing measures on n-propanol imported from US

China announced on Monday that it has launched a sunset review of the countervailing measures on n-propanol (NPA) imported from the United States, effective Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The review concerns the countervailing duties first imposed under the Ministry of Commerce's Announcement No 47 of 2020. Based on the ministry's recommendation, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has decided that the countervailing tariffs will remain in place during the review period.

A sunset review of countervailing measures is conducted at the end of a duty's validity period to assess whether the tariffs should remain in place or be lifted, according to the World Trade Organization.

NPA, which is formed naturally in small amounts during many fermentation processes, is used as a solvent in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly for resins and cellulose esters.

China decided to impose countervailing duties on imports of NPA originating in the US from Nov 18, 2020, at rates ranging from 34.2 percent to 37.7 percent, for a period of five years.