India Steel Cylinders: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on nonrefillable steel cylinders from India (A-533-912/C-533-913). The AD investigation covers entries April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, and the CVD investigation covers entries Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022.

The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized nonrefillable steel cylinders from India are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due June 12, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, due in July for CVD and October for AD, it will set AD and/or CVD 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 CVD order making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CVD on importers and potentially change AD/CVD cash deposit rates.

AD/CVD Respondent Selection

Commerce will send quantity and value questionnaires to each potential respondent, and will base respondent selection on the responses it receives. Exporters that don't get a quantity and value questionnaire can submit one using the forms that will be made available on the Commerce website. Responses are due May 31.

Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations

"The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain seamed (welded or brazed), nonrefillable steel cylinders meeting the requirements of, or produced to meet the requirements of, U.S. Department of Transportation specification 39, TransportCanada specification 39M, or United Nations pressure receptacle standard ISO 11118 and otherwise meeting the description provided below (non-refillable steel cylinders). The subject non-refillable steel cylinders are portable and range from 100-cubic inch (1.6 liter) water capacity to 1,526-cubic inch (25 liter) water capacity. Subject non-refillable steel cylinders may be imported with or without a valve and/or pressure release device and are unfilled at the time of importation. Non-refillable steel cylinders filled with pressurized air otherwise meeting the physical description above are covered by this investigation.

"Specifically excluded are seamless non-refillable steel cylinders.

"The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly classified under statistical reporting numbers 7311.00.0060 and 7311.00.0090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). The merchandise may also enter under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 7310.29.0030 and 7310.29.0065. Although the HTSUS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive."

Comments on the scope of these investigations are due by June 6.

Investigations Timetable

These deadlines may, and usually are, extended. The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is here. (See 2204050029) for a summary of the petition requesting these investigations.