Commerce says China dumps steel sinks on U.S.

   The U.S. Commerce Department on Wednesday determined that Chinese-made stainless steel sinks are dumped on the U.S. market, as well as benefit from export subsidies from the Chinese government.
   The department determined these sinks from China have been sold in the United States at dumping margins (or below fair market value) ranging from 27.14 percent to 76.53 percent, while it also found these products have received countervailable subsidies from the Chinese government ranging from 4.8 percent to 12.26 percent.
   As a result of its antidumping investigation, Commerce said Zhongshan Superte Kitchenware Co. and Guangdong Dongyuan Kitchenware Industrial Co. will receive final dumping margins of 39.87 percent and 27.14 percent, respectively. Nineteen other exporters qualified for a separate rate of 33.51 percent, while all other producers/exporters from China received a final dumping margin of 76.53 percent.
   In the countervailing duty investigation, Guangdong Yingao Kitchen Utensils Co. and Superte received final subsidy rates of 4.8 percent and 12.21 percent, respectively. For merchandise produced by Superte and exported by Foshan Zhaoshun Trade Co., the final subsidy rate is 12.26 percent. All other producers/exporters from China received a final subsidy rate of 8.51 percent, Commerce said.
   Commerce will now instruct Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits equal to the applicable weighted-average dumping margins. The department said it adjusted the antidumping margins, where appropriate, to account for the Chinese subsidies.
   The petitioner for these investigations is Elkay Manufacturing Co. in Illinois.
   In 2011, imports of drawn stainless steel sinks from China were valued at an estimated $118 million.
   The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its final injury determination on the sinks by April 5. If the ITC makes an affirmative final determination that these sink imports from China hurt the domestic industry, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders. If the ITC makes a negative determination, the investigations will be terminated.