TRADE CASES HEADLINESTrade Cases
Commerce Initiates AD, CVD Investigations of Drawn Stainless Sinks from P.R. China
Mar. 23, 2012 On March 22, 2012, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced the initiation of antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of drawn stainless steel sinks from the People’s Republic of China (China).
The petitioner for these investigations is Elkay Manufacturing Company (IL).
For the purpose of AD investigations, dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value.
For the purpose of CVD investigations, countervailable subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit the production of goods from foreign companies and are limited to specific enterprises or industries, or are contingent either upon export performance or upon the use of domestic goods over imported goods.
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Products covered by these investigations are stainless steel sinks with single or multiple drawn bowls, with or without drain boards, whether finished or unfinished, regardless of type of finish, gauge, or grade of stainless steel. Mounting clips, fasteners, seals, and sound-deadening pads are also covered by the scope of these investigations if they are included within the sales price of the Drawn Stainless Steel Sinks.
Stainless steel sinks with multiple drawn bowls that are joined through a welding operation to form one unit also are covered by the scope of the investigations.
Stainless steel sinks with fabricated bowls are excluded from the scope of the investigations are. Fabricated bowls do not have seamless corners, but rather are made by notching and bending the stainless steel, and then welding and finishing the vertical corners to form the bowls. Stainless steel sinks with fabricated bowls may sometimes be referred to as “zero radius” or “near zero radius” sinks.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or before April 16, 2012. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China materially injure or threaten to injure the domestic industry, the investigations will continue, and Commerce will be scheduled to make its CVD and AD preliminary determinations in May and August 2012, respectively, unless the determinations are extended.