CBP Initiates AD Evasion Investigation on Quartz Countertops From China
CBP began a formal investigation of Charman Manufacturing for allegedly evading antidumping duty order A-570-881 on malleable cast iron pipe fittings from China when importing pipe fittings into the U.S., the agency said a notice released May 5.
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The investigation followed Enforce and Protect Act allegations by Matco-Norca that Charman had evaded the AD order by transshipping Chinese-origin pipe fittings through Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore and declaring an incorrect country of origin designation for Chinese-origin fittings. Matco-Norca said Charman's supplier, Global Primeline PTE, doesn't have the capacity to manufacture the volume of fittings that Charman imported from Singapore, and it believes there are no producers of pipe fittings in Hong Kong or Singapore. The address for the supposed supply facility in Singapore is an office building. Matco-Norca also believes that P.T. Tri Sinar Pumama, Charman's Indonesian supplier, falsely inflated its manufacturing capacity to cover its role in transshipping pipe fittings, and that the fittings coming into the U.S. do not include compression couplings or grooves as allowed by the exclusion in the AD order.
CBP's investigation began on July 2. In following up on allegations, officials found no evidence of manufacturing onsite at Global Primline PTE and found China listed as the country of origin on purchases from P.T. Tri Sinar Pumama. Based on this evidence, CBP determined there is reasonable suspicion of evasion of the AD order by Charman and imposed interim measures.