U.S. Commerce Department Exploring Chinese Circumvention Of Stainless Steel Sheet
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on May 12 that it has initiated an inquiry into possible circumvention of antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on stainless steel sheet and strip from China.
The investigation will focus on whether Chinese producers of flat rolled stainless steel are circumventing existing tariffs by shipping through Vietnam, where the metal is cut into sheet and strip or minorly altered in other ways. In a press release, the department said imports of stainless sheet and strip from Vietnam increased in value by 180 percent since the original orders were placed on Chinese stainless sheet in March 2016.
The investigation will also look into whether the steel products from Vietnam fall under the scope of the AD/CVD order placed on Chinese imports.
This inquiry marks the seventh time the Commerce Department has acted on its own to investigate circumvention of anti-dumping and countervailing duties.