Is US DOC Uncovering Something Big with its Investigation into Aluminum Sheet Exports from Gwangyang Aluminum?

US: The Aluminum Association of the United States recently declared that Chinese produced Aluminum sheet products are being further processed in South Korea and then exported to the US. They have asked the US Department of Commerce (USDOC) to investigate this possible circumvention.

The United States has imposed anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties on common alloy Aluminum sheets from China. This decision was based on evidence that Henan Mingtai Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd., a Chinese company, is exporting its goods to the US through its South Korean subsidiary Gwangyang Aluminum Industries Co., Ltd in order to evade tariffs.

The US Department of Commerce (USDOC) has 45 days to decide whether to launch an investigation into potential circumvention of Aluminum sheets. If the investigation is pursued, a preliminary ruling is expected to arrive by mid-September. The Aluminum sheets in question are 1000 series, 3000 series, and 5000 series alloys with thicknesses between 0.2mm and 6.3mm; mainly used for building materials.