Yesterday, U.S. Commerce Department announced that it has finished its preliminary investigations on imports of sodium gluconate, gluconic acid, and derivative products from China and found that Chinese exporters are dumping the above-mentioned at a margin of 213.15 percent. The investigation was initiated based on a petition filed by PMP Fermentation Products, Inc. of Illinois.

The department has now asked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers based on the above-mentioned rate. According to the department’s calculations, U.S. imported $6.2 million worth of sodium gluconate, gluconic acid, and derivative products from China in 2017.

The Commerce Department has significantly stepped up AD & CVD (Countervailing duties) investigations and actions under the Trump administration. The number of investigations initiated and settled in the first 529 days is 30 percent more than the previous administration.