Aluminum Sheet: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on common alloy aluminum sheet from Bahrain (A-525-001), Brazil (A-351-854), Croatia (A-891-001), Egypt (A-729-803), Germany (A-428-849), Greece (A-484-804), India (A-533-895), Indonesia (A-560-835), Italy (A-475-842), South Korea (A-580-906), Oman (A-523-814), Romania (A-485-809), Serbia (A-801-001), Slovenia (A-856-001), South Africa (A-791-825), Spain (A-469-820), Taiwan (A-583-867) and Turkey (A-489-839), and its recently initiated countervailing duty investigation on Brazil (C-351-855), Turkey (C-489-840), Bahrain (C-525-002) and India (C-533-896).

The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized forged steel fittings are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due April 23, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, currently due in June for CV duties and August 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 an AD and/or CV duty order 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.

AD/CV duty orders were issued about a year ago on common alloy aluminum sheet from China (see 1902070013 and 1902050026). Section 232 aluminum tariffs at 10% also apply to common alloy aluminum sheet.

AD/CVD Respondent Selection

Commerce said it will pick respondents for the AD duty investigations on Brazil, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan and Turkey, as well as the CV duty investigations on Brazil, India and Turkey, based on CBP import data. The agency will investigate one company in Bahrain (Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (GARMCO)), one company in Croatia (Impol-TLM,d.o.o.), one company in Egypt (Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum)), two companies in Greece (Argiropoulos B.A.E.E and Elval Hellenic Aluminium Industry S.A.), one company in Oman (Oman Aluminium Rolling Company (OARC)), two companies in Romania (Alro, S.A. and Vimetco Group), two companies in Serbia (Impol Seval Aluminium Rolling Mill and Otovici Doo), one company in Slovenia (Impol Group)), and one company in South Africa (Hulamin Operations (PtY) Ltd.). Comments on respondent selection are due on or about April 10. Commerce intends to finalize its selection of respondents by April 27.

Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations

The products covered by these investigations are common alloy aluminum sheet, which is a flatrolled 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 these 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-l9, 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, 7606.12.3096, 7606.12.6000, 7606.91.3095, 7606.91.6095, 7606.92.3035 and 7606.92.6095. Further, merchandise that falls within the scope of these investigations may also be entered into the United States under HTSUS subheadings 7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3015, 7606.12.3025, 7606.12.3035, 7606.12.3091, 7606.91.3055, 7606.91.6055, 7606.92.3025, 7606.92.6055 or 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 Scope Due April 20

Participants in the AD/CV duty investigations may submit comments on product coverage under the scope of the investigations. Comments on the scope are due by April 20.

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.

(See 2003090046 for a summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.)

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

(Federal Register 04/07/20)