Trade Cases

Preliminary CVD Duties on Chinese Tool Chests

September 12, 2017

The U.S. Commerce Department today announced an affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty investigation on exports of metal tool chests and cabinets from China. Commerce calculated preliminary subsidy rates ranging from 17.32 percent to 32.07 percent.

U.S. imports of tool chests and cabinets from China were valued at an estimated $989.9 million in 2016, compared to $658.1 million in 2014. The investigation was initiated following a petition filed in April by Waterloo Industries, Sedalia, Mo.

“The subsidization of goods by foreign governments is something the Trump administration takes very seriously,” said Secretary of State Wilbur Ross. “The Department of Commerce will continue to stand up for American workers and businesses in order to ensure that China does not take advantage of the most open market in the world.”

Commerce will announce its final determination by Nov. 23. The U.S. International Trade Commission is expected to make its final determination on injury or threatened harm to the domestic industry by Jan. 6, 2018. If both determinations are affirmative, Commerce will issue CVD orders.