Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. slaps duties on steel racks from China

Yesterday, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that it has concluded its investigation into imports of steel racks from China and the department has found that exporters from China received benefits from 28 subsidy programs. The department would announce the Countervailing duty to be charged before September 13th.

In addition to that, the department has also found that Chinese exporters are dumping the above product at 130 to 144.5 percent less than the 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 Coalition for Fair Rack Imports, which has as many as 12 members. According to the department’s calculation, the imports of cast iron soil pipe from China were valued at $200 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 32 percent more than the previous administration.