The Aluminum Association welcomed a decision Thursday by the US International Trade Commission, which determined the domestic aluminum foil industry has been materially injured by foil imports from China.
As a result of a unanimous vote by the ITC, the US Department of Commerce will impose antidumping duties ranging from 48.64%-106.09% and countervailing duties from 70.14%-80.97%.
Broken down by producer, the antidumping margins calculated by Commerce were 48.64% on Zhongji and 106.09% on Dingsheng.
Zhongji comprises Hangzhou Dingsheng Import & Export Co., Jiangsu Zhongji Lamination Materials Co., Jiangsu Zhongji Lamination Materials Stock Co. and Jiangsu Huafeng Aluminum Industry Co. Dingsheng includes Jiangsu Dingsheng New Materials Joint-Stock Co., Inner Mongolia Liansheng New Energy Material Join-Stock Co., Hangzhou Teemful Aluminum Co., Hangzhou Five Star Aluminum Co. and Walson (HK) Trading Co.
Commerce also set antidumping margins of 84.94% on 14 other producers and a China-wide margin of 106.09%.
On countervailing, Commerce set subsidy margins of 19.98% on Dingsheng Aluminum Industries (HK) Trading Co., 17.14% on Jiangsu Zhongji Lamination Materials Co., 80.97% on Manakin Industries and Loften Aluminum (Hong Kong) Co. and 18.56% on all other exporters.
"Today's [ITC] decision is a victory not only for U.S. foil producers but also for the rules-based trading system," said Heidi Brock, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association in a statement. "When companies have confidence that our trade rules are being enforced they have the confidence to invest and grow."
The ITC's determination brings to a conclusion investigations that were initiated following the filing of antidumping and countervailing duty petitions on March 9, 2017 by the Aluminum Association's trade enforcement working group, the association said. As part of its review, Commerce investigated 26 separate subsidy programs maintained by the government of China in the aluminum foil market alone.
The aluminum foil covered under the investigation included imports of foil from China of 0.2 mm or less in thickness in 25lb reels not backed. The determination did not cover etched capacitor or foil cut to shape.
Imports of foil covered under the investigation increased by nearly 40% between 2014 and 2016, receding from the US market only after the trade case was filed, the association said.
China was the largest supplier of subject foil in 2016, supplying nearly 70% of all US imports.
