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Fair Trade Update: Running the Table

We couldn’t be happier to announce that the AEC has won its 6000-series alloyed pallet and 5050 alloy scope clarification/circumvention cases against Zhongwang and others.  Just last week, the Department of Commerce (DOC) ruled that 5050 alloyed extrusions will be subject to our orders regardless of producer, exporter, or importer.  Read the full details about the decision here.

Furthermore, the deadline has passed for any appeals on last month’s decision from the DOC on the fake pallets from Zhongwang.  These decisions, which come on the heels of our successful Sunset Review earlier this year, are tantamount to "running the table" this year!

Even so, threats still exist.  We continue to hear reports of possible circumvention and transshipment of extrusions into the U.S. from Vietnam and Malaysia.  Additionally, the Trump Administration’s decision to order a 232 Investigation into the impact of aluminum imports on national security could lead to tariffs on imports of primary aluminum.  There may be a way for us to address the circumvention issues via the 232 Investigation and avoid misguided policies that would place tariffs on primary aluminum imports.

In other news, the DOC has launched the 6th Administrative Review of our orders.  This is the process by which Commerce reviews existing tariff levels and determines if any changes need to be made.  At this stage of the review, the DOC will be sending notices to Chinese aluminum extruders that export to the U.S. asking them for their most recent production and sales data.  Last month we reported that the preliminary decision in the 5th Administrative Review announced new, and higher rates. They will announce their final decision around Christmas.  If they stay with their preliminary announcements, the new rates will be a combined 106%.

Our industry has invested tremendous resources in this case.  We should all take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and how successful we have been.  Given our recent successes, we have plenty to celebrate.

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