The Department of Commerce recently announced the initiation of AD and CVD investigations of imports of stainless steel flanges from China and India.  The investigations cover six general types of forged stainless steel flanges made in certain alloys, including:  (1) weld neck, used in butt-weld line connections; (2) threaded, used for threaded line connections; (3) slip-on, used to slide over pipe; (4) lap joint, used with stub-ends/butt-weld line connections; (5) socket weld, used to fit pipe into a machine recession; and (6) blind, used to seal off a line. 

Next step: The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before Oct. 2, 2017.  If the ITC determines there is a reasonable indication that imports of stainless steel flanges from China and/or India materially injure or threaten material injury to the domestic industry in the United States, the investigations will continue, and the department will be scheduled to announce its preliminary CVD determinations in November 2017, and its preliminary AD determinations in January 2018, though these dates may be extended. If the ITC’s determinations are negative, the investigations will be terminated.

To view a fact sheet that outlines the DOC’s decisions, click here.