The US Department of Commerce announced that it will launch a trade investigation on some Vietnamese stainless steel sheets and strips of Chinese origin, and claims that the related products may be suspected of evading anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties by exporting Vietnam to the United States.
The U.S. Department of Commerce said in an official statement: “In the possible tariff evasion operation process, stainless steel flat materials are first imported from China, and then these products are subjected to secondary processing in Vietnam and finally exported to the United States.”
Although the US tariff evasion investigation is usually “initiated in response to trade allegations made by domestic companies”, when the “US Department of Commerce determines that the investigation is necessary”, it will also initiate relevant investigations without domestic companies making allegations.
In March 2017, the US Department of Commerce imposed 63.86% -76.64% anti-dumping tax and 75.6% -190.71% anti-subsidy tax on Chinese-made stainless steel sheet and strip.