Aluminium sheet imports from China are subsidized, says US Commerce Department

The U.S. Department of Commerce said it has made a preliminary determination that imports of common alloy aluminium sheet from China are being subsidized. The Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require U.S. importers of common alloy aluminium sheet from China to deposit estimated countervailing duties at the time of importation, according to the Aluminum Association.

“The Aluminum Association and its members are pleased with the Commerce Department’s preliminary findings of subsidies and commend Secretary Ross’s leadership in self-initiating this investigation to vigorously enforce the U.S. trade laws,” said Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association.

“This is an important first step to begin restoring a level playing field for U.S. aluminium sheet production.  Products that are subsidized by the Chinese government and sold at unfairly and unlawfully low prices create imbalance in a market where the most competitive producers of common alloy sheet – particularly producers in the United States – are at a significant disadvantage.”    

The Commerce Department calculated preliminary subsidy margins ranging from 31.20 to 113.30 percent of the value of the imported common alloy aluminium sheet.  The Department calculated subsidy margins of 34.99 for Henan Mingtai Al Industrial Co., Ltd. and its affiliates; 31.20 percent for Yong Jie New Material Co., Ltd. and its affiliates; 113.30 percent for Chalco Ruimin Co., Ltd. and Chalco-SWA Cold Rolling Co., Ltd.

“Finally, the Department calculated a subsidy margin of 33.10 percent for all other Chinese producers and exporters that cooperated in the Department’s investigation, but were not selected for individual investigation.”