The product covered by these investigations is commonly referred to as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber or nitrile rubber (AB Rubber). AB Rubber is a synthetic rubber produced by the emulsion polymerization of butadiene and acrylonitrile with or without the incorporation of a third component selected from methacrylic acid or isoprene. This scope covers AB Rubber in solid or non-aqueous liquid form. The scope also includes carboxylated AB Rubber.
Excluded from the scope of these investigations is AB Rubber in latex form (commonly classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 4002.51.0000). Latex AB Rubber is commonly either (a) acrylonitrile/butadiene polymer in latex form or (b) acrylonitrile/butadiene/methacrylic acid polymer in latex form. The broader definition of latex refers to a water emulsion of a synthetic rubber obtained by polymerization.
Also excluded from the scope of these investigations is: (a) AB Rubber containing additives (e.g., nitrile rubber further compounded with fillers, reinforcement agents, vulcanization agents, etc.; by example, products classified under HTSUS subheading 4005); (b) AB Rubber containing
rubber processing chemicals, AB Rubber containing other materials used for further processing beyond the polymerization process; (c) hydrogenated AB Rubber (commonly referred to as HNBR) produced by subsequent dissolution and hydrogenation of AB Rubber; (d) reactive liquid polymers containing acrylonitrile and butadiene with amine, epoxy, carboxyl, or methacrylate vinyl chemical functionality.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in a third country, including by modifying physical form or packaging with another product, or performing any other finishing, packaging, or processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the AB Rubber.
The merchandise subject to these investigations is classified in the HTSUS at subheading 4002.59.0000. While the HTSUS subheading numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under investigation is dispositive.