US DOC issues final results of anticircumvention inquiry of AD order against CTL plate from China

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced Wednesday the final results of its anticircumvention inquiry regarding the antidumping (AD) order against cut-to-length (CTL) carbon steel plate from China. 

The DOC has made a final affirmative determination that imports of CTL carbon steel plate with 0.0008 percent or more boron, produced by Tianjin Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. and/or imported by Toyota Tsusho America, are within the scope of the antidumping order against China and are therefore subject to the deposit of dumping duties.

The DOC had initiated this inquiry after receiving a complaint from the domestic industry that the chemistry of subject plate from China had been altered by the addition of small amounts of boron (i.e., 0.0008 percent or more) for the purpose of avoiding dumping duties. The addition of boron changes the tariff classification of the plate from carbon steel to alloy steel, and alloy steel plate is not subject to the current scope of the AD order.
 
The DOC had previously instructed the the US Customs and Border Protection to require the deposit of dumping duties for entries of such merchandise, effective October 20, 2008, the date on which the DOC initiated this anticircumvention inquiry. These directions will remain in effect.