On October 11, 2018, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced that it is initiating antidumping duty investigations on Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from Germany, Mexico, and the People’s Republic of China and concurrently initiating a countervailing duty investigation on imports from China.

NEXT STEPS:

The U.S. International Trade Commission will make its preliminary injury findings on or before November 5, 2018, and if affirmative, the Department of Commerce will continue the investigation and announce its preliminary CVD determination in December 2018 and its preliminary AD determination in February 2019. Both the preliminary CVD and preliminary AD determinations may be extended under the law by Commerce.

Commerce has issued Quantity and Value Questionnaires for Germany, Mexico, and China (both AD and CVD) which must be responded to and submitted to the Department of Commerce by October 24, 2018. Failure to provide adequate responses to these questionnaires can and may lead to Commerce determining a lack of cooperation and potentially instituting duties at significantly high levels.

INITIATION DUMPING MARGINS

China: 204.48%

Mexico: 18.48%

Germany: 72.80%

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The merchandise covered by this investigation are cylindrical kegs, vessels, or containers capable of being pressurized made from stainless steel (i. e. , steel containing at least 10.5 percent chromium by weight and less than 1.2 percent carbon by weight, with or without other elements) (“refillable stainless steel kegs”) with a nominal liquid volume capacity of 10 liters or more, regardless of the type of finish, gauge, thickness, or grade of stainless steel, regardless of finish, and whether or not covered by or encased in other materials. Refillable stainless steel kegs may be imported assembled or unassembled, with or without all components (including spears, couplers or taps, necks, collars, and valves), and filled or unfilled. Assembled refillable stainless steel kegs must be capable of being pressurized to 60 pounds per square inch (“PSI”) and must be tested to 90 PSI.

“Unassembled” or “unfinished” refillable stainless steel kegs include drawn stainless steel cylinders that have been welded to form the body of the keg and welded to an upper (top) chime and/or lower (bottom) chime. Unassembled refillable stainless steel kegs may or may not be welded to a neck, may or may not have a valve assembly attached, and may be otherwise complete except for testing, certification and/or marking.

Subject merchandise also includes refillable stainless steel kegs that have been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to, attachment of necks, collars, spears or valves, heat treatment, pickling, passivation, painting, testing, certification or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope refillable stainless steel keg.

Specifically excluded are the following:

1. vessels or containers that are not cylindrical in nature;
2. stainless steel kegs, vessels, or Containers that have either a “ball lock” valve system or a “pin lock” valve system (commonly known as a “Cornelius,” “corny” or “ball lock” kegs);
3. any fully assembled or finished stainless steel keg, vessel, or container that is incompatible with a “D Sankey” extractor (commonly known as a “D Coupler” or “Sankey”); and
4. necks, spears, couplers or taps, collars, and valves that are not imported with the subject merchandise.
5. stainless steel kegs that are filled with beer, wine, or other liquid and that are designated by the Commissioner of Customs as Instruments of International Traffic within the meaning of section 332(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.

The merchandise covered by this investigation are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) under subheading 7310.10.0010, 7310.10.0050, 7310.29.0025, and 7310.29.0050.

These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

PETITIONERS

American Keg Company, LLC
31 Robinson Street
Pottstown, PA 19464

COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS

Andrew W. Kentz
Picard Kentz & Rowe LLP
1750 K Street, N.W.
Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20006