Global Geopolitical Series: U.S. Commerce Department announces preliminary CVD on imports of forged steel fittings from China

Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department announced preliminary results of the Anti-dumping Duty (AD) and Countervailing Duty (CVD) investigations on imports of forged steel fittings from China. The investigations were initiated based on the petition filed by Bonney Forge Corporation (Mount Union, PA), and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (Pittsburgh, PA).

The department has found that exporters of forged steel fittings from China received unfair subsidies of 13.79 percent. 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 forged steel fittings from China were valued at an estimated $78.4 million 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, “This announcement is separate from today’s the steel and aluminum tariff’s announced by President Trump as a result of the Department’s 232 investigations……..We will continue to review all information related to this preliminary determination while standing up for American workers and companies.”