In its self-initiated investigation, the Department of Commerce has preliminarily determined that countervailing duties (CVD) should be assessed for imports of aluminum sheet from China to counteract Chinese government subsidies. Commerce calculated a 31.20 percent CVD rate for Chinese respondent Yong Jie New Material Co., Ltd.; a 34.99 percent CVD rate for respondents Henan Mingtai Industrial Co., Ltd. and Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry Co., Ltd.; and a 33.10 percent CVD rate for all other Chinese producers and exporters. Due to their failure to cooperate in the investigation, Commerce assigned a 113.30 percent CVD rate to respondents Chalco Ruimin Co., Ltd. and Chalco-SWA Cold Rolling Co., Ltd.

These rates are preliminary, and the investigation will continue into its final phase. Nevertheless, Customs and Border Protection will require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates for the merchandise covered under the scope of the investigation. Such merchandise is common alloy aluminum sheet, which is a flat-rolled aluminum product having a thickness of 6.3 mm or less, but greater than 0.2 mm, in coils or cut-to-length, regardless of width. Common alloy sheet is currently classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 7606.11.3060, 7606.11.6000, 7606.12.3090, 7606.12.6000, 7606.91.3090, 7606.91.6080, 7606.92.3090 and 7606.92.6080. Merchandise that falls within the scope of these investigations may also be entered into the United States under HTSUS subheadings 7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3030, 7606.91.3060, 7606.91.6040, 7606.92.3060, 7606.92.6040 and 7607.11.9090. Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation is aluminum can stock, which is suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum beverage cans, lids of such cans, or tabs used to open such cans.

Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determination in this CVD investigation no later than August 30, 2018. In addition, the related antidumping investigation into aluminum sheet from China continues with a preliminary determination in that investigation due by June 15, 2018. For additional background on this investigation, see Commerce’s Fact Sheet on this CVD investigation and Thompson Hine’s International Trade Update dated November 29, 2017.