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It’s Official – Our China Trade Orders Extended!

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 Earlier this month the Department of Commerce made it official and renewed our anti-dumping/countervailing duties (AD/CVD) orders against China for another five years.  There was little drama in the announcement as we were aware as early as April that the orders were to be extended.  However, it took several months for the process to grind its way to a conclusion.  And frankly, given the reversals we’ve seen from D.C. this year, we could never be too sure!  However, it is good to have that behind us.  I want to thank everyone who contributed data this time.  We had a great turnout and that went a long way to securing the win. 

Since the Sunset Review was essentially concluded earlier this year, it freed up our Fair-Trade budget to continue our work in other areas.  So, this summer we’ve been focusing on the 232, the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) petitions, and growing imports. 

Our excellent Hill Day in Washington, DC, allowed us a chance to take our messages in these hot topics to our lawmakers and key agencies.  Several extruders joined us as we conducted over two dozen meetings during a beautiful Friday in our Nation’s capital.  Our request to have our 232 tariffs reinstated was a major theme.  Feedback from our meetings has been favorable and I have been invited to follow-up meetings at Commerce to discuss this issue.  I cannot predict success at this point, but I can confirm we are being heard.  Our efforts have yielded a bipartisan letter out of the Senate and efforts are underway for one from the House.  As this report is being published, I will have a meeting with the Director of the 232 program for aluminum extrusions.  This is a meeting I have been chasing for months.  Without our efforts in D.C., I’m not sure this would have happened.  Thank you all for your support!

We are still stinging from the inexplicable reversal from U.S. Customs regarding Kingtom.  Our appeals have been filed and we do plan to fight!  We believe we have a solid and persuasive case and look forward to our day in court.  We believe the agencies have fumbled this program and look for the courts to right the ship.  We’ve had good success in the courts on scope challenges.  I will update members once dates are set.

Speaking of courts, our appeal in the Reflections Window and Wall petition is underway.  Oral arguments were heard in September.  We look forward to the court’s ruling later this year or in early 2023.  

Much of our fall Management Conference, and a lot of the chatter amongst U.S. and Canadian extruders, was and is devoted to growing imports.  Seeing little relief from trade violators and ongoing price disadvantages from the lop-sided 232 tariff program, extruders are seeking a remedy.  I am happy to report that analysis is underway, and with your continued contribution of data, we will develop a clear strategy in the coming weeks and months to deal with this problem once and for all.  Stayed tuned for more details.

If we were reminded of anything during our conference and Hill Day, it is that we continue to face growing import pressure AND we can muster a strong voice in D.C. when we work together.  This is exactly what we must do as we go forward, because no one believes the import problem will go away on its own.  Thank you once again for your efforts and continuing support!


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