Final Thoughts

The U.S. Department of Commerce and its Secretary Wilbur Ross did something today that has not been done in the last 25 years–they self-initiated an antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) suit. In this case, it was against aluminum imports from China, but steel buyers should take note. The DOC already has a Section 232 investigation under way on aluminum, on the same essential time table as the steel section. So, be prepared.

As trade attorney Lewis Leibowitz said to me in an email  shortly after the DOC announcement, “Commerce announced initiation of new cases on common alloy aluminum from China. It’s the first self-initiated case by Commerce in more than 25 years.  It portends, possibly, new self-initiated cases on steel products, as well.  I’m speculating, but it may be an alternative to Section 232 relief for both industries.”