The U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition and the United Steelworkers labor union filed petitions for new antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) investigations with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the International Trade Commission (ITC). They are seeking antidumping (AD) duties on imports of aluminum extrusions from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Vietnam. As well as countervailing (CVD) duties on such imports from China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey.
Scope of Petition
The scope requested by the new AD/CVD investigations is different from that of the existing AD/CVD orders on aluminum extrusions from China. It includes explicit language on aspects of the scope that were the subject of litigation since the AD/CVD orders on China were issued, including language addressing subassemblies and how fasteners are considered when determining whether aluminum extrusion components are subject to AD/CV duties.
The scope also specifically covers products that were the subject to scope disputes, and some that DOC or the ITC had found excluded from the China AD/CVD orders. These include heat sinks, shower door kits, vehicle roof rails and sun/moon roof framing, solar panel racking rails and framing, tradeshow display fixtures and framing, parts for tents or clear span structures, fence posts, drapery rails or rods, electrical conduits, door thresholds, flooring trim, electric vehicle battery trays, heat sinks, signage or advertising poles, picture frames, telescoping poles, and cleaning system components.
Potential Trade Impact
According to official U.S. import statistics, a total of 807 million short tons and $3.19 billion of the subject merchandise was imported into the United States in 2022. The quantity and value of total subject merchandise covered by these petitions make their trade impact one of the largest of any AD/CVD petitions filed in the last decade.
Should the ITC find that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or is threatened with material injury from aluminum extrusions from the 15 countries, the DOC’s preliminary determinations will be issued on the following scheduled dates:
• CVD – 12/28/23
• AD – 03/12/24
With the assumption that the DOC does not make an affirmative preliminary finding of critical circumstances, those dates are the earliest on which the DOC can instruct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to require cash deposits on entries of subject merchandise. Those dates may also be extended.
If you have questions on how this may impact your business, reach out to Mohawk Global Trade Advisors.
By Clarissa Chiclana