On August 8, 2017, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced its affirmative preliminary determinations in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of silicon metal from Australia, Brazil and Kazakhstan.
In the Australia investigation, the DOC calculated preliminary subsidy rates of 16.23 percent for Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd. and 16.23 percent for all other producers/exporters.
In the Brazil investigation, the DOC calculated preliminary subsidy rates of 3.69 percent for Dow Corning Silicio do Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda. Respondent Ligas de Aluminio – LIASA, received a preliminary subsidy rate of 52.07 percent based on adverse facts due to its failure to cooperate in the investigation. All other producers/exporters in Brazil have been assigned a preliminary subsidy rate of 3.69 percent.
In the Kazakhstan investigation, the DOC assigned a preliminary subsidy rate of 120.00 percent to respondent Tau-Ken Temir LLP based on adverse facts available due to its failure to cooperate in this investigation. All other producers have also been assigned a preliminary subsidy rate of 120.00 percent.
As a result of the preliminary affirmative determinations, the DOC will instruct US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates.
The petitioner is Globe Specialty Metals, Inc., which has facilities located in Alabama, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. The petitioner requested that the final determinations of the CVD investigations align with the final determinations of the concurrent antidumping duty investigations. Accordingly, the DOC is scheduled to announce its final determinations on or about December 19, 2017, unless the statutory deadline is extended.
The scope of these investigations covers all forms and sizes of silicon metal, including silicon metal powder. Silicon metal contains at least 85.00 percent but less than 99.99 percent silicon, and less than 4.00 percent iron, by actual weight. Semiconductor grade silicon (merchandise containing at least 99.99 percent silicon by actual weight and classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 2804.61.0000) is excluded from the scope of these investigations. Silicon metal is currently classifiable under subheadings 2804.69.1000 and 2804.69.5000 of the HTSUS.
In 2016, imports of silicon metal from Australia, Brazil, and Kazakhstan were valued at an estimated $33.9 million, $60.0 million, and $17.5 million, respectively.