US Removes Duties On Indian Aluminum Can Stock

WASHINGTON, DC- The United States has partially lifted antidumping and countervailing duties on certain aluminum can stock imported from India, providing duty relief for qualifying material used to make beverage cans, can lids and the tabs used to open cans.

The US Commerce Department announced the final results of its changed-circumstances reviews in a notice effective September 24.

The decision covers qualifying aluminum can stock from India and several other countries. It does not revoke the broader antidumping and countervailing-duty orders covering common alloy aluminum sheet.

Commerce said the partial revocation applies to aluminum stock suitable for producing beverage cans, can lids and can-opening tabs. Eligibility will be determined by the written description of the qualifying can stock, regardless of how the merchandise was classified under the US tariff schedule.

The decision effects aluminum sheet orders covering imports from India, Bahrain, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and Türkiye. A separate part of the decision applies to existing orders covering Chinese aluminum sheet.

Commerce initiated the reviews after members of the US aluminum industry sought clarification of the exclusion for can stock. The domestic industry told the department that qualifying aluminum can stock was always intended to remain outside the scope of the orders, regardless of its tariff classification.

Commerce subsequently amended the scope language and formally removed the specified can stock from the antidumping and countervailing-duty orders.

The relief will apply retroactively to qualifying entries that have not been finally assessed by US Customs and Border Protection. Commerce said the partial revocation would apply from the date on which suspension of liquidation began.

US Customs and Border Protection will be instructed to end the suspension for eligible shipments and process them without the duties imposed under the affected orders.

The change provides Indian aluminum producers and exporters with tariff relief on qualifying can stock while the broader trade-remedy orders on common alloy aluminum sheet remain in place. (IANS)