The Department of Commerce announced earlier this week its decisions to initiate antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of certain tool chests and cabinets from China (AD and CVD) and Vietnam (AD). Tool chests typically have bodies made of carbon, alloy, and/or stainless steel and may include drawers, trim, or other components made of other metal or non-metal materials.

The petitioner is Waterloo Industries, Inc. of Sedalia, Missouri.

Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value. A countervailable subsidy is financial assistance from a foreign government that benefits the production of goods from foreign companies.

In 2016, imports of tool chests and cabinets from China and Vietnam were valued at an estimated $989.9 million and $77 million, respectively.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before May 26, 2017. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports of tool chests from China and/or Vietnam materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry in the United States, the investigations will continue, and the Department will announce its preliminary CVD determination in September 2017 and its preliminary AD determinations in July 2017, unless the statutory deadlines are extended. If the ITC’s determinations are negative, the investigations will be terminated.