November 12, 2020
News Release 20-131
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-658-659 and 731-TA-1538-1542 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigations Concerning Aluminum Foil from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of aluminum foil from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of Oman and Turkey.

Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of aluminum foil from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about December 23, 2020, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about March 8, 2021.

The Commission’s public report Aluminum Foil from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-658-659 and 731-TA-1538-1542 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5138, November 2020) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after December 11, 2020; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.


UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Aluminum Foil from Armenia, Brazil, Oman, Russia, and Turkey
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-658-659 and 731-TA-1538-1542 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  Aluminum foil having a thickness of 0.2 mm or less, in reels exceeding 25 pounds, regardless of width. Aluminum foil is made from an aluminum alloy that contains more than 92 percent aluminum. Aluminum foil may be made to ASTM specification ASTM B479, but can also be made to other specifications. Regardless of specification, all aluminum foil meeting the scope of the description is included in the scope, including aluminum foil to which lubricant has been applied to one or both sides of the foil. Excluded from the scope of these investigations is aluminum foil that is backed with paper, paperboard, plastics, or similar backing materials on one side or both sides of the aluminum foil, as well as etched capacitor foil, and aluminum foil that is cut to shape. Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set forth above. 

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioners:  Aluminum Association Trade Enforcement Working Group, Arlington, VA; Gränges Americas, Inc., Franklin, TN; JW Aluminum Company, Daniel Island, SC; Novelis Corporation, Atlanta, GA.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  September 29, 2020.
4.   USITC Hearing Date:  October 20, 2020.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  November 12, 2020.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  November 13, 2020.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  5.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
3.   Production and related workers:  1,526.
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  $1.4 billion.
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  $1.9 billion.
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  14.0 percent. 

U.S. Importers’ U.S. shipments in 2019:

1.   Subject imports:  $267.0 million.
2.   Nonsubject imports:  $265.6 million.
3.   Leading import sources:  Turkey, Korea, Germany, China, Oman.

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