Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced the affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland.  The Department also determined that critical circumstances exist for certain exporters/producers of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from Italy.

“Today’s decision allows U.S. producers of cold-drawn mechanical tubing to receive relief from the market-distorting effects of foreign producers dumping into the domestic market,” said Secretary Ross. “We will continue to take action on behalf of U.S. industry to defend American businesses, workers, and communities adversely impacted by unfair imports.”

Commerce determined that exporters from Germany, India, Italy, China, Korea, and Switzerland sold cold-drawn mechanical tubing in the United States at less than fair value.  The dumping margins determined by Commerce are as follows:

China –  44.92 to 186.89 percent

Germany – 3.11 to 209.06 percent

India – 8.26 to 33.80 percent

Italy – 47.87 to 68.95 percent

Korea – 30.67 to 48.00 percent

Switzerland – 12.05 to 30.48 percent

As a result of today’s decisions, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from Germany, India, Italy, China, Korea, and Switzerland based on the final rates.

In 2016, imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland were valued at an estimated $29.4, $38.8, $25.0, $11.9, $21.3, and $26.2 million, respectively.

The petition was filed by ArcelorMittal Tubular Products (Shelby, OH), Michigan Seamless Tube, LLC (South Lyon, MI), PTC Alliance Corp. (Wexford, PA), Webco Industries, Inc. (Sand Springs, OK), and Zekelman Industries, Inc. (Farrell, PA).

Enforcement of U.S. trade law is a prime focus of the Trump administration.  From January 20, 2017, through April 10, 2018, the Commerce Department has initiated 104 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 100 percent increase from the same period in 2016-2017.

The AD law provides U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 428 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is conducting investigations to determine whether or not the domestic industry is harmed by imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland.  The ITC is currently scheduled to make its final injury determinations on or before May 24, 2018.

If the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue AD orders.  If the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.  If the ITC makes affirmative final determinations of critical circumstances, the Department will direct CBP to collect antidumping duties on cold-drawn mechanical tubing that entered the United States 90 days prior to the publication of the preliminary determinations in the Federal Register.  If the ITC makes negative final determinations of critical circumstances, the Department will direct CBP to refund cash deposits of estimated antidumping duties on cold-drawn mechanical tubing that entered the United States prior to the publication of the preliminary determinations in the Federal Register. 

Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decisions.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade laws and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based solely on factual evidence.

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to AD duties.