Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. Commerce Department announces final AD/CVD on imports of Silicon Metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Norway

Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department announced preliminary results of the Anti-dumping Duty (AD) and Countervailing Duty (CVD) investigations on imports of Silicon Metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Norway. The investigations were initiated based on a petition filed by Globe Specialty Metals, whose production facilities are located in Alabama, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The department has found that exporters from Australia, Brazil, and Norway have sold silicon metal in the United States at 41.73-51.28 percent, 68.97-134.92 percent, and 3.22 percent less than fair value respectively. The investigation has also determined that Australia, Brazil, and Kazakhstan are providing countervailable subsidies to its producers of silicon metal at rates ranging from 14.78 percent, 2.44-52.51 percent, and 100.00 percent, respectively. The Commerce Department has asked the United States’ Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers based on these rates.

According to the department’s calculations, in 2016, the imports of silicon metal from Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Norway were valued at an estimated $33.9 million, $60.0 million, $17.5 million, and $26.1 million, respectively.

Since coming to power the Trump administration has initiated 102 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, a whopping 96 percent increase from the previous period. The statement from the department quoted the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross as saying, “The United States will no longer sit back and watch as its domestic businesses are destroyed by unfair foreign government subsidies and dumping…….We will continue to take action on behalf of U.S. industry to defend American businesses, workers, and communities adversely impacted by unfair imports.”