US–China Trade Daily Highlights | 2026-07-21

1) Executive Summary

Eight China-related trade policy events were published in today’s Federal Register. The principal agencies include the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA). Actions span Section 337 investigations, antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) proceedings, covering transformers, nanolaminate metal parts, and hardwood/decorative plywood from China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as a CVD review involving Indonesia. Instruments used include notices of complaint, public interest comment solicitations, final determinations of violation or no violation, and preliminary or final duty determinations.

2) Updates by Authority

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (ITC)

Transformers and Components — ITC Section 337 (Notice of Complaint, Solicitation of Public Interest Comments)
The Commission announced receipt of a complaint titled Certain Transformers and Components Thereof, Docket No. 3925, filed July 16, 2026, by Ayr Energy Inc. alleging violations of Section 337 related to importation and sale of certain transformers and parts. Respondents include Zetwerk Manufacturing (India, U.S.), KRYFS Power Components Ltd. (India), and Unimacts Global (U.S.). The Commission seeks public comments on potential public interest issues concerning possible exclusion and cease-and-desist orders.

Nanolaminate Alloy Coated Metal Parts — ITC Section 337 (Final Determination: No Violation)
The ITC reviewed and affirmed, with modified analysis, the final initial determination in Investigation No. 337-TA‑1431, finding no violation of Section 337 regarding nanolaminate alloy–coated metal parts alleged by Modumetal Inc. against multiple respondents, including companies in China, Taiwan, India, and the Philippines. The Commission confirmed non‑infringement and failure to satisfy the domestic industry technical prong. The investigation is terminated.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC)
International Trade Administration (Enforcement and Compliance)

Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate (France) — Antidumping Duty Administrative Review (Preliminary Results)
Commerce preliminarily determined that Dillinger France S.A. made no sales below normal value for the 2024–2025 review period. Interested parties may comment before final results, expected within 120 days of publication.

Hardwood and Decorative Plywood (Vietnam) — Final Antidumping Determination
Commerce issued a final affirmative determination finding that hardwood and decorative plywood from Vietnam is sold at less than fair value. The investigation period is October 1, 2024–March 31, 2025. The all-others weighted‑average dumping margin equals 90.12% (84.95% adjusted). No critical circumstances were found.

Hardwood and Decorative Plywood (Vietnam) — Final Countervailing Duty Determination
Commerce determined that countervailable subsidies exist for plywood producers/exporters from Vietnam, with final subsidy rates of 47.68 percent for Trieu Thai Son Co., Ltd./Nhat Duy Production and Trading Co., Ltd. and 165.39 percent for Junma Phu Tho Co., Ltd. Critical circumstances were found for Junma.

Hardwood and Decorative Plywood (Indonesia) — Final Antidumping Determination
Commerce determined that plywood imports from Indonesia are sold at less than fair value. Final company-specific rates: 23.88 percent for PT Sengon Indah Mas/PT Java Wood Industri and 15.40 percent for PT Wijaya Cahaya Timber Tbk./PT Wijaya Triutama Plywood Industri. The all‑others rate is 18.10 percent.

Hardwood and Decorative Plywood (China) — Final Countervailing Duty Determination
Commerce determined that countervailable subsidies are being provided to Chinese producers/exporters of plywood. Key named respondents, including Linyi Evergreen Wood Co., Ltd. and Xuzhou Shelter Import and Export Co., Ltd., received an 88.96 percent rate based on adverse facts available. Commerce also found affirmative critical circumstances for these and all other respondents.

Hardwood and Decorative Plywood (China) — Final Antidumping Determination
Commerce affirmed that plywood from China is sold at less than fair value, assigning a 187.27 percent dumping margin (China‑wide entity rate). Critical circumstances were confirmed for the same group of exporters and the China‑wide entity.

Hardwood and Decorative Plywood (Indonesia) — Final Countervailing Duty Determination
Commerce determined that Indonesian plywood producers/exporters received countervailable subsidies. The final rates are 4.22 percent for PT Sengon Indah Mas, 58.39 percent for PT Wijaya Cahaya Timber Tbk., 128.66 percent (AFA) for PT Mustika Buana Sejahtera, and 40.87 percent for all others.

3) Key Takeaways (Factual)

  • The U.S. ITC received a new Section 337 transformer complaint while closing another on nanolaminate metal parts with a “no violation” finding.
  • Commerce concluded final AD/CVD determinations for hardwood and decorative plywood from China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, with China’s rates above 180 percent for AD and about 89 percent for CVD.
  • Vietnam’s plywood exports were found to be dumped (≈ 90 percent) and subsidized (≈ 48 percent for main respondents), with partial critical circumstances.
  • Indonesia’s producers were also found to have both dumping and subsidization, with varied rates among respondents.
  • No China content was identified in the ITC transformer case, whereas several plywood investigations referenced Chinese inputs or linkages in subsidy programs.

4) Full Source Links (Index)

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.