US to levy duties on drawn stainless steel sinks from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on Thursday decided that the domestic industry was materially injured by imported drawn stainless steel sinks from China, thus allowing Washington to impose punitive duties on these products.

The ruling, another move by Washington that smacks of trade protectionism against China, was backed by all six commissioners of the federal bipartisan trade panel. It cleared the way for the U.S. Commerce Department to issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of drawn stainless steel sinks from China.

The Commerce Department alleged in Feb. 20 that Chinese producers and exporters sold drawn stainless steel sinks in the U. S. market at dumping margins ranging from 27.14 percent to 76.53 percent,and those products from China also received countervailable subsidies of 4.8 percent to 12.26 percent.

The latest USITC decision concluded the probe that commenced on March 1, 2012, in response to a petition filed by Illinois-based Elkay Manufacturing Company.

Imports of drawn stainless sinks from China were valued at an estimated 118 million U.S. dollars in 2011, according to the U.S. government.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.