China said it was "strongly dissatisfied" with the U.S. imposing antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum foil from China, Reuters reported Feb. 28, citing a statement from the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM.
"The U.S. has disregarded the [World Trade Organization] rules and seriously damaged the interests of China's aluminum foil exporters. China is strongly dissatisfied with this," said Wang Hejun, the head of MOFCOM's trade remedy and investigation bureau.
Wang said the U.S. Commerce Department wrongly levied high duties "without any evidence" and "unreasonably and excessively" adopted trade remedy measures that would affect domestic employment and the welfare of U.S. consumers.
The U.S Commerce Department said it would levy dumping margins ranging from 48.64% to 106.09% and anti-subsidy rates of from 17.14% to 80.97%. The duties are for five years and subject to a finding of injury to U.S. producers. The International Trade Commission is due to announce its decision March 15, Reuters said.
Imports of aluminum foil from China reached an estimated $389 million in 2016, U.S. Commerce Department figures showed.
The Commerce Department said antidumping duties will be set at 48.64% for Jiangsu Zhongji Lamination Materials Stock Co Ltd, at 106.09% for Hangzhou Dingsheng Import & Export Co Ltd and related companies, 84.94% for 14 other companies and 106.09% for the other producers in China.
Countervailing duty margins were set at 17.14% for Jiangsu Zhongji, 19.98% for Dingsheng, 80.97% for Loften Aluminum (Hong Kong) Ltd., Manakin Industries LLC and Suzhou Manakin Aluminum Processing Technology Co Ltd, and 18.56% for the other producers in China.
U.S. President Donald Trump is also considering a 10% duty on all aluminum imports, up from the 7.7% proposed by the Commerce Department apart from the global tariff of 24% on steel imports. Trump has until April 19 to decide on tariffs on aluminum imports and until April 11 to decide on tariffs on steel imports.
