China Aluminum Sheet: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The Commerce Department issued notice in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on common alloy aluminum sheet from China (A-570-073/C-570-074). The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016. The AD duty investigation covers entries April 1, 2017, through Sept. 30, 2017. The self-initiated investigation is the first in over 25 years that Commerce has begun on its own behalf, without any petition for AD/CV duties from U.S. domestic producers (see 1711290033).

The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized aluminum foil are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due Jan. 12, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, currently due in February for CV duties and April for AD duties, it will set AD and/or CV duty cash deposit requirements for imports of merchandise subject to the investigation. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will issue orders making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CV duties on importers and potentially change AD/CV duty cash deposit rates.

If duties are imposed, Chinese producers and exporters who do not demonstrate independence from government control and request eligibility for a "separate rate" will be assigned the antidumping duty "China-wide rate," which can reach more than 200 percent for some products. Separate rate applications from Chinese producers and exporters will be available (here), and are due on or about Jan. 3.

AD/CVD Respondent Selection

Commerce will send quantity and value questionnaires to each potential respondent to the AD duty investigation, and will base respondent selection in that investigation on the responses it receives. Chinese exporters that don't get a quantity and value questionnaire can still submit one. Quantity and value questionnaires will be posted on the Commerce website. Responses are due Dec. 13.

For the CV duty investigation, Commerce will select respondents based on CBP import data. Commerce intends to finalize its selection of respondents by Dec. 26.

Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations

The merchandise covered by these investigations is aluminum common alloy sheet (common alloy sheet), which is a flat-rolled aluminum product having a thickness of 6.3 mm or less, but greater than 0.2 mm, in coils or cut-to-length, regardless of width. Common alloy sheet within the scope of these investigations includes both not clad aluminum sheet, as well as multi-alloy, clad aluminum sheet. With respect to not clad aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet is manufactured from a 1XXX-, 3XXX-, or 5XXX-series alloy as designated by the Aluminum Association. With respect to multi-alloy, clad aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet is produced from a 3XXX-series core, to which cladding layers are applied to either one or both sides of the core.

Common alloy sheet may be made to ASTM specification B209-14, but can also be made to other specifications. Regardless of specification, however, all common alloy sheet meeting the scope description is included in the scope. Subject merchandise includes common alloy sheet that has been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to annealing, tempering, painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the common alloy sheet.

Excluded from the scope of these investigations is aluminum can stock, which is suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum beverage cans, lids of such cans or tabs used to open such cans. Aluminum can stock is produced to gauges that range from 0.200 mm to 0.292 mm, and has an H-19, H-41, H-48, or H-391 temper. In addition, aluminum can stock has a lubricant applied to the flat surfaces of the can stock to facilitate its movement through machines used in the manufacture of beverage cans. Aluminum can stock is properly classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 7606.12.3045 and 7606.12.3055.

Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set for the above.

Common alloy sheet is currently classifiable under HTSUS subheadings 7606.11.3060, 7606.11.6000, 7606.12.3090, 7606.12.6000, 7606.91.3090, 7606.91.6080, 7606.92.3090 and 7606.92.6080. Further, merchandise that falls within the scope of these investigations may also be entered into the United States under HTSUS subheadings 7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3030, 7606.91.3060, 7606.91.6040, 7606.92.3060, 7606.92.6040 and 7607.11.9090. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.

Comments on the scope of these investigations are due by Dec. 18.

Investigations Timetable

*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.

†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.

‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.

+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.

The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).

(Federal Register 12/04/17)