Vietnam's hot-rolled steel bars are under investigation in Australia, and the US has just received a request for an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into fiber-cast products imported from Vietnam.

Vietnam's hot-rolled rebar under investigation in Australia

The Australian Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC) under the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources has just announced the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation (CBPG) on hot rolled deformed steel reinforcing bars in lengths imported from/originating in Vietnam.

Also under investigation in this case are products from the following countries: IIndonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Türkiye.

The plaintiff, Infrabuild NSW Pty Limited of Australia, has filed a request for an anti-dumping investigation on the above products with HS codes: 7214.20.00; 7228.30.10; 7228.30.90 and 7228.60.10. The investigation period is from July 01, 7 to June 2023, 30.

ADC has issued a Questionnaire for Vietnamese exporters. The deadline for responding to the Questionnaire is October 31, 10.     

According to the case schedule, ADC is expected to issue a Preliminary Conclusion on November 25, 11 (subject to extension), issue a Report on Material Facts on January 2024, 13, and a Final Conclusion on February 01, 2025.  

The Trade Defense Department recommends that the Association and related manufacturing and exporting enterprises carefully study the Application Document, the initiation notice and the instructions and regulations; fully and comprehensively cooperate to answer the Investigation Questionnaire and provide information as requested by ADC.

The United States received a request for an anti-dumping and countervailing investigation into Vietnamese fiber-cast products.

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has received a petition for anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imported fiber-cast products from Vietnam and China.

Products under investigation: Molded fiber products, HS codes of the product: 4823.70.0020 and 4823.70.0040; some other codes: 4823.61.20, 4823.61.40, 4823.69.20, 4823.69.40.

Anti-dumping/countervailing duty investigation period expected: 2023. Anticipated damage investigation period: 03 years (2021-2023).

The plaintiff accused Vietnamese enterprises manufacturing/exporting fiber molded products of dumping with a margin of 328-602%.

In this case, the plaintiff proposed to use Indonesia as a surrogate country because it argued that Indonesia have a similar level of economic development to Vietnam and have a significant number of manufacturers of fiber molded products. Parties have 30 days to comment on the replacement country before DOC issues its preliminary determinations.

Regarding the subsidy allegation, the plaintiff argues that Goverment Vietnam provides significant subsidies to producers and exporters including 22 government subsidy programs that cause or threaten material injury to a domestic industry in the United States.

Specifically, the accused programs belong to the following groups: Group of loan and guarantee programs, Group of import tax exemption programs; Group of corporate income tax incentive programs; Group of land incentive programs; Sponsorship programs including export promotion and investment support sponsorship programs; Providing utilities at preferential prices including programs providing electricity, water and other utilities to businesses at preferential prices.

According to data from the US International Trade Commission (ITC), in 2023, Vietnam will export about 16 thousand short tons/US tons, equivalent to about 50 million USD in 2023.

In the first 6 months of 2024, Vietnam exported about 14 thousand short tons/ton to the US, equivalent to 38 million USD. The proportion of imports of the alleged goods from Vietnam accounted for about 9% of the total imports of the US in 2023.

Eight Vietnamese export manufacturing enterprises were accused of dumping and receiving subsidies from the Government.

Enterprises involved in this case need to closely monitor the further developments of the case; proactively study and master the regulations, procedures, and processes of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations of the United States and plan a lawsuit strategy suitable for the enterprise (in case the DOC initiates an investigation); and diversify export markets and products, the Trade Defense Department recommends.

Source: Vietnam.vn