Diamond Sawblades Importer Found to Be Evading Antidumping Duties in EAPA Case
Importer Gogo International evaded antidumping duties on diamond sawblades and parts from China, CBP found in its Enforce and Protect Act investigation determination. CBP determined that substantial evidence existed revealing that Gogo was transshipping the sawblades through Canada, primarily because Gogo and one of its affiliates did not submit any evidence contradicting this claim.
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The EAPA investigation was initiated after the Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers' Coalition filed its allegations of evasion with CBP. The DSMC said that Gogo acts as the importer for Chinese-origin diamond sawblades that are wholly manufactured in China, transshipped through Canada and presented as Canadian-origin goods (see 2106010048). The allegations also said that Protech Diamond Tools Inc. (Protech Canada), an affiliate of Gogo, attaches Chinese-origin segments and Chinese-origin cores to assemble the diamond sawblades in Canada. After finding enough evidence of a reasonable suspicion to check out the evasion claims, CBP launched the EAPA case.
At first, CBP couldn't tell if the diamond sawblades at issue were within the scope of the order, so it submitted a covered merchandise referral request to the Commerce Department. Commerce found, in return, that diamond sawblades assembled in Canada by Protech Canada by joining Chinese cores and segments are covered merchandise, while diamond sawblades joined in Canada by Protech Candaa from either non-Chinese segments or cores are not covered merchandise.
However, in the investigation itself, Gogo and Protech Canada didn't respond to CBP's requests for information, so no information was submitted showing that their sawblades were not covered merchandise. "Based on the record of this investigation, CBP determines that there is substantial evidence demonstrating that Gogo entered covered merchandise into the United States through evasion," the determination said. As a result, CBP said that it will suspend or continue to suspend the liquidation for all of Gogo's entries that are subject to the EAPA investigation until it is told to liquidate them.