Trump Administration Self-Initiates Aluminum Investigations

The Trump administration launched a pair of investigations that could lead to import duties of aluminum sheet valued at more than $600 million, the first time in at least 25 years a U.S. administration has "self-initiated" an antidumping or countervailing duty case.While working with the aluminum industry to develop the case, Ross said Commerce is initiating the investigations, which could take up to a year. Then, the U.S. International Trade Commission will have to determine if U.S. producers have been materially injured or threatened with material injury by the imports."In this case, available evidence indicates that Chinese producers are selling aluminum sheet in the United States at prices that are less than fair value and that the Chinese government is providing unfair subsidies to producers of aluminum sheet," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said. The efforts announced Tuesday are in addition to two other investigations – one on aluminum imports from China and a broader Section 232 probe.