US Investigates China's Steel Circling Rules via Indonesian Plants
Published Date: 3/25/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce is checking if certain corrosion-resistant steel products made in Indonesia using Chinese steel are sneaking around existing trade rules. This could mean new duties or restrictions for companies importing these steels, starting March 25, 2026. Steel makers like Steel Dynamics and Nucor pushed for this to keep trade fair and protect U.S. businesses.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Country-wide Inquiry into Indonesian CORE
Commerce has opened a country-wide circumvention inquiry, effective March 25, 2026, to decide whether corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) completed in Indonesia using hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel made in the People’s Republic of China is evading existing antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders on CORE from China. The inquiry covers CORE completed in Indonesia using Chinese-origin HRS or CRS that is exported from Indonesia and imported into the United States.
Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposits
Commerce will notify U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue suspension of liquidation for entries already suspended under the Orders and to apply the cash deposit rates that would apply if these products are found covered by the Orders. Commerce may also instruct CBP to begin suspension of liquidation and require cash deposits for unliquidated entries entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the publication date of this initiation notice (March 25, 2026), and may apply suspension for certain entries prior to initiation but not before November 4, 2021.
Timing: Preliminary and Final Deadlines
Commerce intends to issue a preliminary circumvention determination no later than 150 days from the publication of this notice and a final determination no later than 300 days from publication. These timelines begin from the March 25, 2026 Federal Register publication of the initiation notice.
Products Covered by the Inquiry Defined
The inquiry covers certain flat-rolled steel products that are clad, plated, or coated with corrosion-resistant metals such as zinc, aluminum, or zinc-, aluminum-, nickel- or iron-based alloys, whether or not corrugated, painted, varnished, laminated, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances. Commerce incorporated a full product description in the Circumvention Initiation Checklist published with this notice.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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The U.S. Department of Commerce is checking if certain corrosion-resistant steel products made in Indonesia using Vietnamese steel are sneaking around import rules meant to keep trade fair. This could affect steel companies and importers by possibly adding extra duties starting March 25, 2026. The investigation aims to make sure everyone plays by the rules and pays their fair share.