House Members Caution Commerce and ITC on AD Investigations on Tin Mill Products
More than 30 members of the House of Representatives cautioned the International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce about their investigations on tin mill products from eight countries, arguing any antidumping duties impose as a result of the investigations could increase costs for downstream U.S. industries and raising U.S. food prices, in a June 12 letter to the chairman of the ITC and the undersecretary of commerce for international trade.
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The impact on manufacturers from the investigations that began in February on tin mill products from Canada, China, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and the U.K. (see 2302100064) "would dramatically increase the cost of tinplate used for canned packaging," leading to an increase in prices for canned foods, the letter said. The potential increase in canned food prices would impact "vulnerable populations, food banks," and those who rely on government programs for food, as canned foods are a "low-cost option" for families, the letter said. Potential tariffs would "threaten to cause significant price increases and possible job losses," it said.
The U.S. also gets a lot of its steel from imports and allied countries. Domestic tin mill steel producers are producing about 50% of demand, with the rest coming from allied countries like Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.K., the letter said: "If the proposed tariffs were imposed, the domestic industry would be at a competitive disadvantage to foreign competitors."
Very few steel imports come from China, the House members said, telling the ITC and Commerce that they "strongly believe" that the U.S. needs to be protected from unfair trade practices "especially from countries like China." However, Chinese imports only make up 10% of imported tin mill steel, the letter said, meaning Chinese tin mill producers will be "slightly harmed" by the duties, while Chinese canned goods producers could "benefit greatly" from these tariffs.