At this point, the answer is an easy one – ABSOLUTELY.  There are several key metrics to consider. The first is where we are winning and where we are losing on the various decisions from the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) that support our case that Chinese aluminum extrusions were being illegally imported. The second question is the one that really counts: whether the orders of the DOC on duties related to aluminum extrusion imports from China are effective.
Let’s first look at the decisions of the DOC and ITC. The big win was the obvious one that culminated in the ITC decision in early 2011 that our industry was being injured by imported Chinese extrusions and then in April 2011 by the DOC that the Chinese producers were causing this injury through government subsidies and by “dumping” extrusions illegally into the U.S. Their decision to help “level the playing field” resulted in duties of up to 400 percent.
Subsequent to this obvious win,…

In the last two blogs, we have talked about what it takes to be successful in a fair trade case such as the one the extrusion industry brought before the U.S. government. The process is long and arduous. It takes a focused commitment from the entire industry. And it takes money. On top of that, the drive must be maintained for the long run. This is not a sprint; it is a marathon.
So, is it worth it? What’s at stake?
As we mentioned in last week’s blog, the Chinese will NOT give up. They have extremely strong strategic, economic and political reasons to vigorously continue to fight this battle. The Chinese extrusion industry has built a capacity that far exceeds their current and future domestic need and, in fact, could supply a good part of the global requirement. Their desperate need to create employment significantly outweighs any supply/demand rational for this build-up in capacity.
Once you buy the argument that the Chinese extrusion industry will do everything in their power (legal…