US–China Trade Daily Highlights | 2026-07-20
1) Executive Summary
Six trade remedy events were covered today, primarily from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The ITC issued new investigations under Sections 201 and 337, and instituted preliminary antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations. The DOC released both preliminary and final administrative review results related to aluminum sheet and passenger vehicle tires. Main policy tools referenced include AD/CVD proceedings, Section 201 global safeguard investigations, and Section 337 intellectual property investigations.
2) Updates by Authority
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (ITC – U.S. International Trade Commission)
Lamb Meat — Global Safeguard Investigation (Institution and Scheduling)
The ITC initiated Investigation No. TA-201-80 under Section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 following a request from the U.S. Trade Representative. The inquiry will determine whether increased imports of fresh, chilled, or frozen lamb meat are a substantial cause of serious injury to the U.S. domestic industry. The Commission found the case to be “extraordinarily complicated,” extending the deadline for the injury determination to November 13, 2026, and the final report submission to the President to January 11, 2027. Public hearings on injury and remedy are scheduled for October 16 and December 1, 2026, respectively.
– Authority: U.S. International Trade Commission
– Policy Type: Other (Section 201 safeguard)
– Event Type: Institution of Investigation
– Investigation No.: TA-201-80
– Key Dates: Injury determination by Nov. 13, 2026; Report to President by Jan. 11, 2027
Foundry Coke — Section 337 Investigation (Institution)
The ITC instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1512 based on a complaint by SunCoke Technology and Development LLC and Jewell Coke Company L.P. against multiple European respondents. The complaint alleges violations of Section 337 by importation and sale of foundry coke products that infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 12,600,915 and 12,331,367. Complainants seek a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
– Authority: U.S. International Trade Commission
– Policy Type: ITC_337 (Intellectual Property / Unfair Import)
– Event Type: Institution of Investigation
– Investigation No.: 337-TA-1512
– Filed: June 15, 2026
– Link: foundry-coke-itc-investigation
Welded Stainless Steel Line and Pressure Pipe — AD/CVD Investigations (Institution and Scheduling)
The ITC began preliminary phase investigations Nos. 701-TA-800-801 and 731-TA-1796-1798 to determine whether U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with injury by imports of welded stainless steel line and pressure pipe from India, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. The products are alleged to be sold at less than fair value and subsidized by India and Turkey. The ITC must issue its preliminary determination by August 31, 2026, unless extended, with views transmitted to Commerce by September 8, 2026.
– Authority: U.S. International Trade Commission
– Policy Type: AD/CVD
– Event Type: Institution of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations
– Investigations Nos.: 701-TA-800-801, 731-TA-1796-1798
– Petition Filed: July 15, 2026
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) Devices — Section 337 Investigation (Institution)
The ITC instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1511 after a complaint from Netlist, Inc. concerning alleged infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 12,646,537 and 12,650,937. The complaint targets imports of DDR5 and high bandwidth memory DRAM devices, and products containing them, by several major technology companies. The complainant seeks limited exclusion and cease and desist orders.
– Authority: U.S. International Trade Commission
– Policy Type: ITC_337 (Intellectual Property / Unfair Import)
– Event Type: Institution of Investigation
– Investigation No.: 337-TA-1511
– Complaint Filed: June 16, 2026
– Link: dram-devices-itc-investigation
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (International Trade Administration)
Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from Oman — AD Administrative Review (Preliminary Results)
Commerce preliminarily determined that Oman Aluminium Rolling Company SPC sold aluminum sheet in the U.S. at less than normal value during the review period April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025. The preliminary weighted-average dumping margin is 2.23%. Interested parties are invited to comment before final results are issued.
– Authority: U.S. Department of Commerce, Enforcement and Compliance
– Policy Type: AD_CVD
– Event Type: Preliminary Results of Administrative Review
– Period of Review: Apr. 1, 2024 – Mar. 31, 2025
– Dumping Margin (Preliminary): 2.23%
– Link: aluminum-sheet-oman-ad-review
Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Thailand — AD Administrative Review (Final Results)
Commerce issued final results for the 2023–2024 review, determining that Sentury Tire (Thailand) Co., Ltd. sold subject merchandise below normal value, while Sumitomo Rubber (Thailand) Co., Ltd. did not. Sentury’s final weighted-average dumping margin is 2.90%, with the same rate assigned to non-examined firms; Sumitomo’s margin is 0.00%.
– Authority: U.S. Department of Commerce, Enforcement and Compliance
– Policy Type: AD_CVD
– Event Type: Final Results of Administrative Review
– Period of Review: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
– Final Margins: Sentury Tire 2.90%; Sumitomo Rubber 0.00%
– Link: tires-thailand-ad-final
3) Key Takeaways (Factual)
– The ITC launched a Section 201 safeguard investigation on lamb meat at USTR’s request, citing extraordinary complexity.
– Two new Section 337 investigations were instituted—one on foundry coke products and another on DRAM devices.
– The ITC began concurrent AD and CVD investigations on welded stainless steel pipe from India, Turkey, and the UAE.
– Commerce preliminarily found dumping in aluminum sheet imports from Oman.
– Commerce’s final review for passenger and light truck tires from Thailand resulted in a positive finding for Sentury but none for Sumitomo.
4) Full Source Links (Index)
– Lamb Meat – Section 201 Investigation
– Foundry Coke – Section 337 Investigation
– Welded Stainless Steel Pipe – AD/CVD Institution
– DRAM Devices – Section 337 Investigation
5) Legal Disclaimer
This article includes content collected and summarized from publicly available U.S. government materials, including the Federal Register (federalregister.gov). The content presented is not an official government publication and does not represent the views of any U.S. government authority.
This article is provided for informational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, compliance advice, or recommendations for any specific entity or transaction. Readers should refer to the original official documents and consult qualified professionals before making decisions based on this information.
