May 13, 2020
US DOC starts circumvention inquiry on stainless steel sheet and strip imports
2020-05-18
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced the self-initiation of a new inquiry into possible circumvention involving exports of stainless steel sheet and strip (stainless steel flat rolled products) made with substrate from China, completed in Vietnam, and then exported to the United States.
In the inquiry, the DOC will determine whether imports of stainless steel sheet and strip completed in Vietnam using Chinese-origin substrate are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on stainless steel sheet and strip from China.
Under US law, the DOC may conduct a circumvention inquiry when evidence suggests that merchandise subject to an AD or CVD order is completed or assembled in third countries from parts and components imported from the country subject to the order.
If the DOC preliminarily determines that circumvention is occurring, it will instruct Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting cash deposits on imports of stainless steel sheet and strip completed in Vietnam using Chinese-origin substrate. These duties will be imposed on future imports, and on any unliquidated entries since the date the DOC initiated these circumvention inquiries.
Shipments of stainless sheet and strip from Vietnam to the United States increased in value by 180.4 percent or $122 million comparing import data from the 40-month period before and after the initiations of the original AD/CVD investigations on Chinese stainless sheet and strip.
Source: Steel Orbis
