On October 26, 2017, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the initiation of AD investigations of imports of forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and Taiwan and a CVD investigation of imports of forged steel fittings from China.
Alleged dumping margins were set at 142.72 percent for China, 18.66-80.20 percent for Italy, and 116.17 percent for Taiwan. The estimated subsidy rate for China is above de minimis.
In 2016, imports of forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and Taiwan were valued at an estimated $78.4 million, $21.1 million, and $15.1 million, respectively.
The petitioners are 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 US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before November 20, 2017. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports of forged steel fittings from China, Italy and/or Taiwan materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry in the United States, the investigations will continue, and the DOC will be scheduled to announce its preliminary CVD determination in January 2018 and its preliminary AD determinations in March 2018, though these dates may be extended. If the ITC’s determinations are negative, the investigations will be terminated.
Subject carbon and alloy forged steel fittings are normally entered under HTSUS 7307.99.1000, 7307.99.3000, 7307.99.5045, and 7307.99.5060. They also may be entered under HTSUS 7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, and 7326.19.0010.