On January 17, 2018, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the affirmative preliminary determinations of the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of stainless steel flanges from China and India.
Preliminary subsidy rates are as follows:
| Country | Exporter/Producer | Subsidy Rate |
| China | Both Well (Jiangyan) Steel Fittings Co., Ltd. | 174.73% |
| China | Hydro Fluid Controls Ltd. | 174.73% |
| China | Jiangyin Shengda Brite Line Kasugai Flange Co., Ltd. | 174.73% |
| China | Qingdao I-Flow Co., Ltd. | 174.73% |
| China | All Others | 174.73% |
| India | Bebitz Flanges Works | 239.61% |
| India | Echjay Forgings Private Limited | 5.00% |
| India | All Others | 5.00% |
The DOC is scheduled to announce its final determinations on April 3, 2018, and May 29, 2018, for China and India, respectively, unless the statutory deadlines are extended.
In 2016, imports of stainless steel flanges from China and India were valued at an estimated $16.3 million and $32.1 million, respectively. The petitioners are the Coalition of American Flange Producers and its individual members: Core Pipe Products, Inc. (Carol Stream, IL) and Maass Flange Corporation (Houston, TX).
Merchandise subject to the investigations is typically imported under headings 7307.21.1000 and 7307.21.5000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).