In a united, bipartisan push, Congresswoman Carol Miller, R-W.Va., alongside U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., have called on U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to reverse a trade decision they say threatens critical jobs in West Virginia’s chemical manufacturing industry.
At the center of the dispute is a preliminary determination by the Department of Commerce that could slash antidumping duties on chlorinated isocyanurates (isos) — chemicals essential for pool disinfection — by over 80%, a move lawmakers argue would devastate domestic producers. Solenis, a major manufacturer based in South Charleston, West Virginia, employs more than 100 workers who could face job losses if the decision stands.
“This is about standing up for American jobs and ensuring a fair playing field against unfair trade practices,” the lawmakers said in a letter to Raimondo, emphasizing that the decision to use Romania as a reference for calculating duties is “procedurally questionable and fundamentally flawed.”
The controversy stems from Commerce’s choice to replace Mexico with Romania as the surrogate country for determining antidumping duty rates on Chinese imports of chlorinated isos. While Romania produces bleach — a simpler, fast-acting disinfectant — it does not manufacture chlorinated isos, which require advanced chemical processes and skilled labor. In contrast, Mexico has long been recognized as a comparable producer of chlorinated isos.
“Romania’s production of bleach is not equivalent to chlorinated isos,” the lawmakers wrote. “Mexico, with scalable production of the same product, is the correct and only appropriate choice.”
Adding to the confusion, the FY25 Commerce surrogate list released just weeks after the decision restored Mexico to the list, further calling into question Romania’s initial selection.
The lawmakers warned that adopting Romania as a reference point would result in unfairly low duties on Chinese imports, allowing them to undercut American manufacturers. For Solenis, one of the few domestic producers of chlorinated isos, the implications are severe.
“Reducing antidumping duties by 80% would flood the U.S. market with cheaper Chinese products, threatening over 100 jobs in South Charleston alone,” the letter stated. “Thousands more workers across the country could face similar consequences.”
Chlorinated isos play a vital role in water disinfection, particularly in swimming pools. Unlike bleach, isos provide slow, continuous disinfection, requiring skilled chemists and time-intensive production processes. The lawmakers contend that failing to uphold antidumping protections undermines the integrity of U.S. trade laws and weakens the nation’s ability to compete against China’s unfair practices.
Miller, Capito, and Manchin urged Raimondo to reconsider the decision before it becomes final, highlighting Commerce’s authority to select an off-list country — in this case, Mexico — when no suitable option exists from its approved list.
“This flawed determination jeopardizes the operational health of a key industry and puts American jobs at risk,” they said. “We respectfully request your intervention to ensure the Department fulfills its mission to protect U.S. manufacturers and workers from unfair trade practices.”
The lawmakers’ appeal underscores the high stakes for West Virginia and the broader U.S. manufacturing sector. A final decision on the matter is expected in the coming months.