The U.S. Commerce Department Monday announced its preliminary affirmative determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation against imports of carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate) from eight countries, signaling that it may impose punitive duties on the products.

The department made affirmative preliminary determinations in the AD investigations of CTL plate imports from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and China.

As a result of the preliminary affirmative determinations, it will instruct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates.

The department launched AD and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations against imports of such products from China in April 2016, in response to a request from ArcelorMittal USA based in Illinois and two other steel companies based in North Carolina and Illinois.

Punitive duties would be imposed after both the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) make affirmative final rulings, which are expected to come early next year.

CTL plate is widely used in the building sector, agricultural, construction and mining equipment, and machine parts and tooling.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has kept urging Washington to abide by its commitment against protectionism and help maintain a free, open and fair international trade environment. 金属板材展-线材展-金属加工展-2017第十八届广州国际金属板材、棒材、线材及金属加工、配套设备展—全球三大金属展之一巨浪展览-THE 18th GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONALPLATEMETAL, BAR, WIRE, METAL PROCESSING & SETTING EQUIPMENT EXHIBITION