The U.S. Commerce Department has initiated investigations into the competitive fairness of steel propane cylinders imports from China, Taiwan and Thailand.
Specifically, the department will conduct investigations into alleged dumping of these cylinders on the U.S. market by all three countries, while separately Commerce will investigate Chinese cylinder producers for the possibility that they’re receiving unfair export subsidies from the Chinese government.
The petitioners for the investigations include Worthington Industries of Columbus, Ohio, and Manchester Tank & Equipment Co. in Franklin, Tenn.
The alleged dumping margins for the propane cylinders are China from 55.41 to 108.60 percent, Taiwan from 27.19 to 66.20 percent, and Thailand 47.67 to 122.48 percent.
There are 18 alleged subsidy programs for China (two loan programs, three export credit/guarantee programs, five tax programs, three provision of goods for less than adequate remuneration programs and five grant programs), according to the petitioners’ filing.
In 2017, imports of steel propane cylinders from China, Taiwan and Thailand were valued at $89.8 million, $10.1 million and $14.1 million, respectively.
If Commerce makes affirmative findings in these investigations, and if the U.S. International Trade Commission determines that dumped and/or unfairly subsidized U.S. imports of steel propane cylinders from China, Taiwan and/or Thailand are causing harm to the U.S. industry, Commerce will impose duties on those imports in the amount of dumping and/or unfair subsidization found to exist.