Commerce says steel flange imports dumped

The U.S. Commerce Department is scheduled to announce its final determinations on stainless steel flange shipments from China and India by June 5.

   The Commerce Department said it has preliminarily determined that stainless steel flange shipments from China and India are being dumped on the U.S. market at less than fair value.
   In its China investigation, Commerce assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 257.11 percent to Shanxi Guanjiaying Flange Forging Group Co. Ltd., Hydro-Fluids Controls Ltd., Songhai Flange Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and Dongtai QB Stainless Steel Co. Ltd. A similar dumping margin was also assessed for all other Chinese producers and exporters of these stainless steel flanges.
   For its India investigation, the department assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 145.25 percent to Bebitz Flanges Works Pvt. Ltd. and its affiliates, including Viraj Profiles Ltd. (Bebitz/Viraj); and Echjay Forgings Pvt. Ltd. and its affiliates. In addition, Commerce calculated a preliminary dumping rate of 18.1 percent for Chandan Steel Ltd, which was also assigned to all other Indian producers and exporters of stainless steel flanges.
   Commerce has instructed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers of imports of stainless steel flanges from China and India based on these preliminary rates.
   According to the department, imports of stainless steel flanges from China and India in 2016 were valued at $16.3 million and $32.1 million, respectively.
   The petitioners for the antidumping investigations include the Coalition of American Flange Producers and its members Core Pipe Products of Carol Stream, Ill., and Maass Flange Corp. of Houston.
   Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determinations for these investigations by June 5. If the department makes affirmative final determinations of dumping and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping orders. If Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will end and no orders will be issued.