Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that it has concluded its investigation into imports of cast iron soil pipe fittings from China and the department has found that exporters from China received countervailable subsidies ranging from 7.37 percent to 133.94 percent. In addition to that, the department has also found that Chinese exporters are dumping the above product at 22.11 to 360.39 percent less than fair value. The Commerce Department has asked the U.S. customs and border protection agency (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers based on the above rates.
The investigation was initiated based on a petition filed by Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute of Illinois. According to the department’s calculation, the imports of cast iron soil pipe from China were valued at $7.8 million in 2017.
The Commerce Department has significantly stepped up AD & CVD (Countervailing duties) investigations and actions under the Trump administration. The number of investigations initiated and settled is 30 percent more than the previous administration.
