United States International Trade Commission Makes Affirmative Preliminary Determination in Trade Cases on Slag Pots from China

WASHINGTON (February 2025) - In a preliminary victory for the U.S. industry, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determined on Thursday, February 13, 2025, that there is a reasonable indication that the domestic slag pots industry has been significantly injured as a result of imports from China.

The ITC’s vote comes in response to petitions filed December 31, 2024, by WHEMCO-Steel Castings, Inc. The petitions allege that the Chinese industry is importing significant volumes of slag pots at unfairly low prices, distorting the U.S. market and injuring the domestic slag pots industry.

“Antidumping laws must be upheld in order to ensure a fair global market,” said Daniel B. Pickard, lead counsel to the petitioner and Buchanan’s International Trade and National Security Practice Group leader. “This vote brings the U.S. slag pots industry one step closer to ensuring that they can compete on a level playing field.”

On January 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the initiation of antidumping (AD) investigations into imports of slag pots from China. The dumping margins for imports are alleged to be as high as 294.43%.  On the same day, the Department of Commerce also initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into the subsidies provided to the slag pots industry in China.

The Commission’s affirmative preliminary determination paves the way for the Department of Commerce to move forward with its investigations. Commerce is currently expected to issue its preliminary CVD determination at the end of March and its preliminary AD determinations in June 2025. If Commerce reaches affirmative preliminary determinations in these cases, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin collecting AD and CVD cash deposits based on the preliminary margins calculated.

The Commission’s final phase investigation will occur no later than January 2026. If both the Commission and Commerce reach affirmative final determinations, AD and CVD orders on slag pots from China will be issued, imposing duties on the unfairly traded imports for a minimum of five years.

The Buchanan team representing the petitioner also includes Milton Koch, Claire Webster, Brandon Custard, Amanda Wetzel, Caroline Bisk, Carson Easterling, and Grace Welborn.