On December 31, 2024, WHEMCO-Steel Castings, Inc. (“Whemco” or “Petitioner”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. imports of slag pots from the People’s Republic of China (“China”).
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The following language describes the imported merchandise from China:
The merchandise covered by the investigation are slag pots with a nominal capacity of 65 cubic feet to 1200 cubic feet regardless of shape, form, or finish.
Slag pots are load bearing devices typically formed as a curved shell designed to collect molten or solid slag generated during metallurgical or chemical processes. Slag pots are metallurgical goods typically produced either using a casting process or a fabrication process and may include a ceramic refractory coating, heat treatment or various finishes in order to handle high temperature slag. Slag pots are typically designed as lifting equipment and may include attachments to enable the transport of slag pots. Attachments may include 1) a connected stand 2) pivotal mounting hooks or brackets and 3) other attachments. The merchandise covered by this investigation includes all attachments of a fully assembled slag pot, regardless of whether shipped assembled or unassembled.
Subject slag pots are included within the scope whether finished or unfinished, whether imported individually or with other subject or non-subject parts, whether assembled or unassembled, or if joined with non-subject merchandise. Finishing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing, welding, grinding, shot blasting, heat treatment, machining, and assembly of various parts.
The country of origin for subject slag pots whether fully assembled, unfinished or finished, is the country where the subject slag pot was cast or forged. Subject merchandise includes slag pots that have been further processed or further assembled. Further processing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing, welding, grinding, shot blasting, heat treatment, painting, coating, priming, machining, and assembly of various parts. The inclusion, attachment, joining, or assembly of non-subject parts with subject merchandise either in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product or in a third country does not remove the subject slag pots from the scope.
Slag pots subject to the investigation are specified within the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 7309.00.0090. The HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the scope of the investigations is dispositive.
PETITIONER
WHEMCO-Steel Castings, Inc.
5 Hot Metal Street, Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Thomas Kane, Vice President, Sales & Technical Service
Office Phone: 412-390-2721
Email: tkane@whemco.com
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, PC
1700 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-452-7900
NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS
For a list of foreign producers/exporters alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment I.
NAMED IMPORTERS
For a list of importers alleged by the Petitioner, please see Attachment II.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
Below is an estimated schedule. Please note that the Commerce Department deadlines are likely to be extended for both the AD and CVD investigations as authorized by statute.
| Event | Earliest Date | Extended Date |
| Petition Filed | December 31, 2024 | |
| DOC Initiation | January 20, 2025 | |
| ITC Preliminary Investigation: | ||
| Questionnaires Due | January 14, 2024 | |
| Request to appear at hearing | January 19, 2025 | |
| Hearing | January 21, 2025 | |
| Briefs | January 26, 2025 | |
| ITC Vote | February 14, 2025 | |
| DOC Investigation Schedule: | ||
| DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination | June 9, 2025 | July 29, 2025 |
| DOC Final Antidumping Determination | August 23, 2025 | December 11, 2025 |
| DOC Preliminary Countervailing Determination | March 26, 2025 | May 30, 2025 |
| DOC Final Countervailing Determination | June 9, 2025 | August 13, 2025 |
| ITC Final Investigation: | ||
| ITC Final AD Determination | October 7, 2025 | January 25, 2026 |
| ITC Final CVD Determination | July 24, 2025 | September 27, 2025 |
ALLEGED DUMPING MARGINS
China: 319.251%
Periods of Investigation: The antidumping duty period of investigation will be April 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. The countervailing duty period of investigation will be January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
ALLEGED COUNTERVAILING DUTY MARGINS
Above de minimis.
ALLEGED SUBSIDIES
For a list of alleged subsidies the Petitioner, please see Attachment III.
IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 (Jan – Oct) | 2024 (Jan – Oct) | |
| China | |||||
| First Unit of Quantity | 159,671 | 317,900 | 358,199 | 294,120 | 356,185 |
| Landed Duty Paid Value | 64,215,486 | 70,035,486 | 48,097,879 | 41,514,048 | 47,137,316 |
| Landed Duty Paid Value / First Unit of Quantity | 402 | 220 | 134 | 141 | 132 |
CONTACT US For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Nithya Nagarajan, Dan Wilson, or Stephen Brophy.