US initiates anti-circumvention inquiry on AD order of steel hangers from Vietnam

On July 22, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced that it has initiated an antidumping (AD) duty circumvention inquiry regarding certain steel hangers from Vietnam.
 
The inquiry is in response to a request from domestic producer M&B Metal Products Co., Inc.
 
In its two requests, the petitioner alleges that Chinese manufacturers of the subject merchandise have been circumventing the AD order by using two Vietnamese companies to export their hangers.
 
The petitioner alleges that Angang Clothes Rack Manufacture Co., Ltd. is circumventing the hangers AD order with the help of its alleged affiliate, China-based Shaoxing Gangyuan Metal Manufactured Co., Ltd., and also that Quyky Yanglei International Co., Ltd is circumventing the order with the help of its alleged affiliates, China-based Shanghai Ruishan Metal Products Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Taizhou Hongda Metal Products Co., Ltd., using these companies for assembly and completion of the product.
 
The DOC will, following consultation with interested parties, establish a schedule for questionnaires and comments on the issues. It intends to issue its final determination within 300 days of the date of publication of this initiation notice.
 
This merchandise is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers 7326.20.0020 and 7323.99.9060.