SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 11, 2021, Commerce published in the Federal Register the AD order on R-32 from China.^[1] On February 2, 2026, the ITC instituted,^[2] and Commerce initiated,^[3] the first sunset review of the Order, pursuant to ( printed page 51659) section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). As a result of its review, Commerce determined that revocation of the Order would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, and therefore, notified the ITC of the magnitude of the margins of dumping likely to prevail should the Order be revoked.^[4]

On August 4, 2026, the ITC published its determination, pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752(a) of the Act, that revocation of the Order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time.^[5]

Scope of the Order

The merchandise covered by this Order is difluoromethane (R-32), or its chemical equivalent, regardless of form, type or purity level. R-32 has the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number of 75-10-5 and the chemical formula CH2 F2. R-32 is also referred to as difluoromethane, HFC-32, FC-32, Freon-32, methylene difluoride, methylene fluoride, carbon fluoride hydride, halocarbon R32, fluorocarbon R32, and UN 3252. Subject merchandise also includes R-32 and unpurified R-32 that are processed in a third country or the United States, including, but not limited to, purifying or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the Order if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope R-32. R-32 that has been blended with products other than pentafluoroethane (R-125) is included within this scope if such blends contain 85% or more by volume on an actual percentage basis of R-32. In addition, R-32 that has been blended with any amount of R-125 is included within this scope if such blends contain more than 52% by volume on an actual percentage basis of R-32. Whether R-32 is blended with R-125 or other products, only the R 32 component of the mixture is covered by the scope of this Order. The scope also includes R 32 that is commingled with R-32 from sources not subject to this Order. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of this Order.

Excluded from the current scope is merchandise covered by the scope of the antidumping order on hydrofluorocarbon blends from the People's Republic of China. See Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order,81 FR 55436 (August 19, 2016) ( Blends Order).

R-32 is classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 2903.39.2035. Other merchandise subject to the current scope, including the above-mentioned blends that are outside the scope of the Blends Order, may be classified under 2903.39.2045 and 3824.78.0020. The HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the scope of the Order is dispositive.

Continuation of the Order

As a result of the determinations by Commerce and the ITC that revocation of the Order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce hereby orders the continuation of the Order. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect AD cash deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all imports of subject merchandise.

The effective date of the continuation of the Order will be August 4, 2026.^[6] Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(c)(2), Commerce intends to initiate the next five-year reviews of the Order not later than 30 days prior to fifth anniversary of the date of the last determination by the ITC.

Administrative Protective Order (APO)

This notice also serves as a final reminder to parties subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which continues to govern business proprietary information in this segment of the proceeding. Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction.

Notification to Interested Parties

These five-year (sunset) review and this notice are in accordance with sections 751(c) and 751(d)(2) of the Act and published in accordance with section 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4).

91 FR 51658