antidumping

The U.S. Department of Commerce self-initiated trade cases for the first time since 1991 on Tuesday, November 28, on Chinese common alloy aluminum sheet. While Commerce normally opens antidumping and countervailing duty investigations only after requests from the domestic industry, the agency is authorized to self-initiate cases. Commerce last exercised this power for a countervailing duty case in 1991 and for an antidumping case in 1985.

Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement on Tuesday, “President Trump made it clear from day one that unfair trade practices will not be tolerated under this administration, and today, we take one more step in fulfilling that promise. We are self-initiating the first trade case in over a quarter century, showing once again that we stand in constant vigilance in support of free, fair and reciprocal trade.”

On September 26, 2017, DAK Americas LLC, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, Indorama Ventures USA Inc., and M&G Polymers USA, LLC filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of Polyethylene Terephthalate (“PET”) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan.

On August 24, 2017, Titanium Metals Corporation filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties and countervailing duties on imports of Titanium Sponge from Japan and Kazakhstan.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The product covered by these investigations is all forms and grades of titanium sponge, except as specified below. Titanium sponge is unwrought titanium metal that has not been melted.

On August 9, 2017, North Pacific Paper Company filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties and countervailing duties on imports of Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The merchandise covered by this petition includes certain paper that has not been coated on either side and with 50 percent or more of the cellulose fiber content consisting of groundwood pulp, or deinked pulp made from recycled ONP (old newspapers), weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical process, such as thermomechanical process (“TMP”), chemithermo mechanical process (“CTMP”), or bleached chemithermo mechanical process (“BCTMP”) or any other process other than the bleached Kraft process. The scope includes paper shipped in any form, including both rolls and sheets.

On July 13, 2017, the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties and countervailing duties on imports of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from China.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The merchandise covered by these investigations is finished and unfinished cast iron soil pipe fittings (“CISPF”), regardless of industry or proprietary specifications. These are nonmalleable iron castings of various shapes and sizes used in conjunction with cast iron soil pipe in the sanitary and storm drain, waste, and vent piping of buildings.