Department of Commerce Issues Final Antidumping Duty Determinations for Tin Mill Products from Multiple Trading Partners and the Final Countervailing Duty Determination for Tin Mill Products from the People’s Republic of China - Department of Commerce
Today (1/5/24), the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its findings that imports of tin mill products from Canada, China, Germany, and the Republic of Korea are being unfairly priced, i.e., dumped, into the U.S. market, and imports of tin mill products from China are also being subsidized. Commerce also finds that imports of tin mill products from the Netherlands, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom are not being dumped. Commerce’s antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) cases investigate the behavior of and seek to hold foreign producers accountable for their unfair trade practices. These findings demonstrate that Commerce took a careful and nuanced approach based on the particular circumstances presented by each company and the governing provisions of U.S. law. This determination underscores Commerce’s commitment to remedying unfair trade practices, to which U.S. workers, companies, and farmers are entitled under U.S. law.
After a thorough, transparent, and data-driven investigation, Commerce determined the following duty rates:
County Company(s) Dumping Rate (%)
Canada ArcelorMittal Dofasco G.P. 5.27
All Others** 5.27
China China-Wide Entity* 122.52
Germany thyssenkrupp Rasselstein GmbH 6.88
All Others** 6.88
Korea KG Dongbu Steel Co., Ltd.
TCC Steel Corp.
All Others** 0.00
2.69
2.69
Netherlands Tata Steel IJmuiden BV 0.00
Taiwan Ton Yi Industrial Corporation 0.00
Turkey Tosyali Toyo Celik A.S.; Toscelik Profil ve Sac Endustrisi A.S. 0.00
United Kingdom Tata Steel UK Ltd. 0.00
* This rate is based on an adverse inference.
** Commerce only calculates an “all-others” rate when the finding is affirmative, i.e., above zero.
County Company(s) Subsidy Rate (%)
China Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.* 649.98
Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.
China-Wide Entity 331.88
331.88
* This rate is based on an adverse inference.
Commerce’s final determinations affirm the preliminary determinations with the exception of its investigation into imports of Korean tin mill products. Following the preliminary determinations, Commerce’s investigators completed rigorous, fact-intensive audits of the information companies submitted as part of the investigations, as required by law. As part of these audits, one Korean company submitted corrections which resulted in changes to Commerce’s dumping calculations and an affirmative final finding of dumping. Further, following the preliminary determinations and audits, interested parties submitted comments which Commerce evaluated as part of its quasi-judicial, transparent process. Accordingly, some of the rates have changed based on consideration of public comment.
Following the issuance of our final determinations, an independent agency, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), will determine whether the domestic industry has been materially harmed or threatened by material injury by the unfairly traded imports. While Commerce’s investigation focuses on unfair trade practices abroad, the ITC considers the impact on the U.S. industry. Only if both agencies come to affirmative final determinations can a trade remedy order and final duties go into effect.
Because Commerce has reached negative final determinations with respect to imports from the Netherlands, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, these investigations will be terminated, and no final duties will go into effect.
For more information on antidumping and countervailing duties, visit the International Trade Administration’s FAQs. Public records on this investigation can be found at access.trade.gov.
________________________________________________________________________________
Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe From the United Arab Emirates: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021-2022
• Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Taiwan: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2021-2022
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Cold-Drawn Mechanical Tubing of Carbon and Alloy Steel From Italy: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021-2022
• Tin Mill Products From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination, in Part
• Certain Softwood Lumber Products From Canada: Continuation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order and Countervailing Duty Order
• Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished and Unfinished, From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021-2022
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Tin Mill Products From the Republic of Turkey: Final Negative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Tin Mill Products From the Netherlands: Final Negative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Tin Mill Products From Taiwan: Final Negative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances
• Tin Mill Products From Germany: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances
• Tin Mill Products From the United Kingdom: Final Negative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Tin Mill Products From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances
• Tin Mill Products From Canada: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances
• Tin Mill Products From the Republic of Korea: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From India, Thailand, and the Republic of Turkey; Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From Brazil, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan; and Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Taiwan: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders (India, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Republic of Turkey), Continuation of Countervailing Duty Order (the Republic of Turkey), and Revocation of Antidumping Duty Order (Brazil)
• Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From the Federal Republic of Germany: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Amended Final Determination of Antidumping Investigation; Notice of Second Amended Final Determination
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From the Republic of Korea: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results; Correction
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Furniture Products Finished With Decorative Wood Grain Paper and Components Thereof; Notice of Institution of Investigation
________________________________________
2024 Rates for the Basetime, Overtime, Holiday, Laboratory Services, and Export Application Fees - USDA
On December 21, 2023, FSIS published a Federal Register notice announcing the 2024 fees it will charge meat, poultry, and egg products establishments, importers, and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime, holiday, identification, certification, and laboratory services. The notice also announces that there will be no change to the fee FSIS assesses to exporters that choose to apply for export certificates electronically through the export component of the agency’s Public Health Information System. The rate changes will be applied on January 14, 2024.
The following table lists the 2024 rates per hour, per employee, by type of service.
Service 2024 Rate (estimates rounded
to reflect billable quarters)
Basetime $71.64
Overtime $87.96
Holiday $104.28
Laboratory $103.24
Electronic Export Certificate $4.01
________________________________________________________________________________
OTEXA: Announcements - International Trade Administration
[01/08/2024] – November 2023 Textile and Apparel Import Report
[01/03/2024] – Determination to Approve CAFTA-DR Commercial Availability Request for Certain Two-Way Stretch Polyester/Spandex Woven Fabric: File Number CA2023001.
[01/01/2024] – The Islamic Republic of Mauritania has had their eligibility restored under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), while the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda have been removed from the Trade Preference Program. For more details see the Presidential Proclamation.
________________________________________________________________________________
CBP officers seize 172 pounds of cocaine at the Ysleta Port of Entry Cargo Facility - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Ysleta Port of Entry Cargo Facility intercepted 172.6 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $5.5 million Wednesday.
“This significant seizure is an example of the vigilance and commitment by our CBP officers to the narcotic interdiction mission,” said CBP Ysleta Port Director Arnoldo Gomez. “CBP officer expertise, canines and technology are all important elements in stemming the flow of contraband.”
The interception occurred January 3, when a 56-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a box truck arrived from Mexico via the cargo facility. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection of the conveyance and commodity which included screening by a canine team and a non-intrusive inspection (x-ray) exam. Following a thorough examination, CBP officers located 64 bundles containing 172.6 pounds of cocaine concealed within the commodity manifested as plastic rolls.
The narcotics and conveyance were seized by CBP.
________________________________________________________________________________
FTC to Hold Informal Hearing on Proposed Rule Banning Fake Reviews - Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission will hold an informal hearing on its proposed rule banning fake reviews and testimonials at 10 a.m. ET on February 13, 2024.
During the hearing, which will be open to the public and available via webcast, three interested parties will provide oral statements addressing issues raised during the rulemaking process.
On July 31, 2023, the FTC published a Federal Register notice proposing a new rule to stop marketers from using illicit review and endorsement practices such as using fake reviews, suppressing honest negative reviews, and paying for positive reviews, which deceive consumers looking for real feedback on a product or service and undercut honest businesses.
In response to the proposed rulemaking, three of the 100 commenters requested to present their positions at an informal hearing. They include the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Fake Review Watch, and a group of academic researchers.
The Commission vote approving publication of the notice was 3-0. It will be published in the Federal Register shortly.
The lead staffer on this matter is Michael Ostheimer in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
________________________________________________________________________________
FTC Issues Biennial Report to Congress on the National Do Not Call Registry - Federal Trade Commission
In FY 2023, the FTC received more than 2.1 million complaints and 2.7 million new numbers were added to the DNC Registry
The Federal Trade Commission issued its biennial report to Congress on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry that shows the number of consumers who have placed their telephone numbers on the Registry over the past two years has reached more than 249 million.
The report also notes that the FTC has received more than two million Do Not Call complaints in fiscal year (FY) 2023 with people overwhelmingly reporting these violations came via robocalls, as opposed to live telemarketing.
Imposter scam, medical needs and prescription scam calls led the list of commonly reported call topics in FY 2023, followed by calls related to reducing debt and energy, solar, and utilities. In response to the consistently high number of complaints from the public about impersonator scams, the FTC recently continued its rulemaking initiative to combat business and government impersonation fraud. A data spotlight issued in June 2023 found that bogus bank fraud warnings were the most common form of text message scam reported to the agency, and that many of the most common text scams impersonate well-known businesses.
The DNC Registry was created to provide consumers with a choice regarding whether or not to receive telemarketing calls. Accordingly, it is important that the FTC continue to work alongside the Federal Communications Commission to ensure that the Registry is effective and accessible for both consumers and telemarketers, the report notes. As new technology provides new challenges, both agencies actively seek to address and confront them by, among other things, encouraging private industry, other government agencies, academia, and other interested parties to create and develop new strategies to help consumers avoid unwanted telemarketing calls.
The FTC continues to track how technology affects the Registry and the consumers and telemarketers who access it. As a result of new technologies such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, callers, including law-breakers, are now able to make higher volumes of calls inexpensively from anywhere in the world. Technological developments also allow illegal telemarketers to fake, or “spoof,” the caller ID information that accompanies their calls, allowing them to conceal their identity from consumers. The report details how FTC’s law enforcement initiatives have evolved to keep up with these ever-changing technologies.
The report also includes updates on other DNC-related enforcement actions, including the pursuit of VoIP service providers who facilitate illegal calls through its Project point of No Entry, suits against platforms and soundboard technology providers, and July 2023’s Operation Stop Scam Calls, a coordinated sweep involving more than 180 actions brought by more than 100 federal and state law enforcement partners. Finally, the report details four public challenges the FTC has held to spur private-sector development of technological solutions that will help stop illegal robocalls.
Biennial Report Data
At the end of FY 2023, the DNC Registry had 249.5 million active registrations, an increase of more than 2.7 million from the previous fiscal year. According to the report, during FY 2022, 2,116 businesses and other entities paid more than $14.3 million to access the Registry and 1,963 entities paid Registry access fees totaling more than $14.9 million in FY 2023.
The Commission also publishes an annual Do Not Call Registry Data Book that provides substantial detail on registration numbers and other statistical information about the Registry. Similar information is also available the FTC’s Tableau public page, which is updated regularly and allows users to interact with the data to drill down to state or county data.
The Commission vote approving the report and its submission to Congress was 3-0.
The staff attorney on this matter is Ami Dziekan of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.