US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has announced the affirmative final determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of carton-closing staples from the People’s Republic of China.

Commerce determined that exporters from China sold carton-closing staples in the United States at 115.65 – 263.40 percent less than fair value. In 2016, imports of carton-closing staples from China were valued at an estimated $73.2 million. The petition was filed by North American Steel & Wire, Inc. and ISM Enterprises of Pennsylvania.

“The dumping of goods by foreign governments is something the Trump administration takes very seriously,” said Ross. “The Department of Commerce will continue to stand up for American workers and businesses in order to ensure that China and other countries do not take advantage of the most open market in the world.”

Foreign companies that price their products in the US market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to AD duties.

As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of carton-closing staples based on the final rates.

From January 20, 2017, through March 22, 2018, the Commerce Department has initiated 102 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations—a 96 percent increase from January 20, 2016, through March 22, 2017.

The AD law provides US businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 428 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

If the US International Trade Commission (ITC) makes an affirmative final injury determination, Commerce will issue an AD order. If the ITC makes a negative final determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.