Germany Aluminum Sheet: Commerce to Consider New Exemption From AD Duties

The Commerce Department will consider whether to create a new exemption for lithographic-grade aluminum sheet from antidumping duties on common alloy aluminum sheet from Germany (A-428-849), it said in a notice beginning a changed circumstances review. Kodak requested the partial revocation, and presented a letter from the Aluminum Association Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet Trade Enforcement Working Group, which originally requested the AD order on German aluminum sheet, saying it doesn't oppose creating the exemption.

In its request for a changed circumstances review, Kodak defined products that would be partially revoked from the orders as follows:

"Also excluded from the scope is lithographic-grade aluminum sheet. To be excluded, the lithographic-grade aluminum sheet must meet the following criteria: (i) a Copper (Cu) content of no more than 0.01 percent, a Zinc (Zn) content of ≤0.05%, a Silicon (Si) content of 0.05% - 0.20% and an Iron (Fe) content of 0.30% - 0.50%; (ii) a thickness between 0.267 mm - 0.3705 mm, (iii) a width of 500 mm - 1650 mm, (iv) a maximum wave height of no more than 3.0 mm, (v) a tensile strength of 130 MPa or more (after baking), and (vi) a surface roughness less than or equal to Ra 0.26 µm.

"The designation of a product as 'lithographic-grade' indicates the acceptability of the product for use in the production of lithographic printing plates. Importers of lithographic-grade aluminum sheet are required to maintain a certification of end use that certifies the imported lithographic-grade aluminum sheet will be used only in the production of lithographic printing plates. Importers of lithographic-grade aluminum sheet are required to maintain a copy of the end-use certifications and to provide them at the request of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. Department of Commerce."

The final results of the review are due in April 2024, unless all parties agree to the outcome, in which case the final results could be issued as soon as September.