Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. Commerce Department announces preliminary AD on imports of Stainless Steel Flanges from China and India

Earlier this week, the U.S. Commerce Department announced preliminary results of the Anti-dumping Duty (AD) investigation on imports of Stainless Steel Flanges from China and India. The investigations were initiated based on a petition filed by Coalition of American Flange Producers and its individual members: Core Pipe Products, Inc. (Carol Stream, IL) and Maass Flange Corporation (Houston, TX).

The department has found that exporters of Stainless Steel Flanges from China and India have sold the product in the United States at 257.11 percent, and 18.10 to 145.25 percent less than fair value, 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, imports of stainless steel flanges from China and India were valued at an estimated $16.3 million and $32.1 million, respectively, in 2016.

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 not sit back and watch as our domestic businesses are destroyed by unfair foreign government subsidies and dumping……..This Administration is taking fair and transparent action on behalf of American industry to defend businesses and workers while we continue reviewing the facts related to this decision.”