As we work on a new trade case, government affairs issues have taken center stage in recent weeks. AEC members have been working with their local elected officials and their staff over the last few weeks. In this effort we have applied pressure on these lawmakers to help us find resolutions in the Aluminum 232 General Approved Exclusions (GAEs), the surge in imports from Mexico (USMCA and 232), and the overall state of our industry as a result of these failed government policies.
Since that time, Bonnell Aluminum hosted a visit to their Utah plant for Senator Mitt Romney. Western Extrusions has leaned on their representative to set up a meeting with key officials this month in Washington, D.C. to discuss our trade concerns with House Ways and Means committee staff. Taber Extrusions has initiated a Senate letter by their Arkansas Senator, Tom Cotton. Working with members, our lobbyists are circulating the letter for bipartisan support to ‘close the deal' on the Commerce Department's commitment to us to remove those GAEs.
As we've pursued these discussions, we are learning more about the Inflation Reduction Act and how it will be administered. A new tax credit is available for new investments that meet certain criteria. We will be hosting a webinar very soon to tell you how you may be able to take advantage of this program.
All this activity shows us the power of our voice. Only three members working on these issues have found their way into the type of conversations we need to have. What would happen if 10 members joined the effort? What if we all did? Think about it. We don't represent a huge industry. However, we are in over 30 states. This gives us a chance to say what we can't do with size, we make up for in volume!! (Doesn't that sound familiar?)
Changing gears, there have been some updates to our case against China. In a strange development, Sinobec has launched a scope challenge against a Vietnamese supplier of extruded solar panels. They claim the extrusions are made in China and are not substantially changed enough in Vietnam to avoid tariffs. We will follow this one with popcorn.
Commerce rejected Kaivac's scope request to not pay tariffs on imported mop handle products. Their filing was weak and, thus, rejected.
The Fortress Fence Post Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) filing is underway and being investigated. More to come on this one in late summer.
Customs also announced an EAPA investigation against Minth auto parts. Unfortunately, interim duties were not applied. We are engaged in this matter and will report on its progress accordingly.
The door threshold case is in the appeals courts. We asked the court to combine all these cases to expedite the process. The court agreed. Opening briefs are due later this month.
In our Administrative Reviews, Commerce issued final results in the countervailing duties (CVD) review covering the 2021 period of review and assigned a rate of 293.85% based on the application of adverse facts available, as expected. We withdrew completely from the antidumping (AD) review covering the prior period of review.
Look for announcements this month of webinars about tax credit opportunities within the Inflation Reduction Act and updates on our new trade case. Once the coalition is finalized, we are going to have A LOT to talk about! Have a safe and enjoyable start to your summer. Thank you for your continued support!
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