Commerce Probes Vietnam Steel Dodging Duties Through Indonesia
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 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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Initiation Could Lead to New Duties
Commerce has started a country-wide circumvention inquiry into corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) completed in Indonesia using cold-rolled steel (CRS) from Vietnam. If Commerce later determines these imports circumvent the antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) orders, those CORE imports could be treated as covered by the AD/CVD orders and subject to duty measures beginning with this notice (applicable March 25, 2026).
Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposits
Commerce will notify U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue suspension of liquidation and to apply cash deposit rates for products already suspended under the Orders, and to begin suspension and cash deposit requirements for unliquidated entries entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after the publication date (March 25, 2026). Commerce may also instruct CBP to apply suspension and cash deposits to certain unliquidated entries entered before the initiation date, but not for entries prior to November 4, 2021.
Which Products Are Covered
The inquiry covers certain flat-rolled steel products that are clad, plated, or coated with corrosion-resistant metals (for example, zinc or aluminum), whether or not corrugated, painted, varnished, laminated, or coated with plastics. Products completed in Indonesia using Vietnamese-origin cold-rolled steel (CRS) and exported to the United States are the subject of this inquiry.
Timing: Preliminary and Final Deadlines
Commerce intends to issue a preliminary circumvention determination no later than 150 days after publication (by August 22, 2026) and a final determination no later than 300 days after publication (by January 19, 2027), unless rescinded or extended. These dates set the regulatory timeline when preliminary or final duty outcomes may be announced.
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