U.S. Government Moves Forward On Trade Investigations, Outlines Trade Barriers

It was a busy week last week in the United States on the trade enforcement front. The U.S. Commerce Department issued an affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation on imports of aluminum wire and cable from China, finding exporters received subsidies ranging from approximately 12 to 164 percent.

The department assigned a preliminary subsidy rate of 15.77 percent to mandatory respondent Shanghai Silin Special Equipment Co., Ltd.; a preliminary subsidy rate of 11.57 percent to mandatory respondent Chanfeng Wire and Cable Co., Ltd.; and a preliminary subsidy rate of 164.16 percent to mandatory respondent Shanghai Yang Pu Qu Gong. The department set the preliminary subsidy rate for all other Chinese producers and exporters at 13.67 percent. The agency will announce its final determination in the case by mid-August.

On Tuesday of last week, the U.S. International Trade Commission announced its determinations in its final phase investigations of large diameter welded pipe from Canada, Greece, Korea and Turkey and of structural pipe from Canada, Korea and Turkey.

With respect to line pipe, ITC made affirmative determinations with respect to the antidumping duty investigations of products from Canada, Greece, Korea and Turkey and an affirmative determination with respect to the countervailing duty investigation from Korea. It terminated the countervailing duty investigation of line pipe from Turkey.

With respect to structural pipe, the ITC made affirmative determinations with respect to the antidumping duty investigations from Canada, Korea, and Turkey and made affirmative determinations with respect to the countervailing duty investigations from Korea and Turkey. It terminated the antidumping duty investigation of structural pipe from Greece.

With respect to stainless steel pipe, ITC made negative determinations with respect to the antidumping duty investigations from Canada and Korea and a negative determination with respect to the countervailing duty investigation from Korea. It terminated the antidumping duty investigations of stainless steel pipe from Greece and Turkey and countervailing duty investigation of stainless steel pipe from Turkey.

As a result of the USITC’s determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of LDW carbon and alloy steel line pipe from Canada, Greece, Korea, and Turkey; a countervailing duty order on imports of LDW carbon and alloy steel line pipe from Korea; antidumping duty orders on imports of LDW carbon and alloy steel structural pipe from Canada, Korea, and Turkey; and a countervailing duty order on imports of LDW carbon and alloy steel structural pipe from Korea and Turkey. Click here to learn more.

In other trade enforcement-related news: on March 29, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released its annual report on international trade barriers around the world. This year’s report highlights trade barriers in 65 markets, with a major focus on the European Union and markets in Asia, including China. The report a wide range of trade barriers, including import tariffs, export subsidies and limitations, discriminatory localization policies, lack of intellectual property protection, technical barriers to trade, investment restrictions and digital trade. Click here to read USTR’s full summary of the report.