US–China Trade Daily Hightlights | 2026-10-16
1) Executive Summary
– Today’s brief covers 5 items from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (DOC/ITA). Policy instruments include antidumping (AD), countervailing duties (CVD), and Section 337. Highlights: the ITC scheduled the final phase of the AD/CVD investigations on n-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide (CBS) from China; DOC issued final AD determinations on high purity dissolving pulp (HPDP) from Brazil and Norway and a final CVD determination on HPDP from Brazil; and the ITC allowed amendment of claims in a semiconductor Section 337 investigation.
2) Updates by Authority
ITC (U.S. International Trade Commission)
– Headline:
N-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide (CBS) — AD_CVD (TRADE_REMEDY)
Summary:
The ITC scheduled the final phase of Investigations Nos. 701-TA-797 and 731-TA-1793 to determine whether the U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by imports of CBS from China. Commerce has preliminarily determined subsidization and alleges sales at less-than-fair-value; the AD preliminary determination is pending. The notice sets procedural deadlines, including the staff report, hearing, and briefing schedule.
Key Details:
– Authority: INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
– Policy Type: AD_CVD
– Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
– China Indicator: EXPLICIT
– Key identifiers: Investigation Nos. 701-TA-797 and 731-TA-1793 (Final)
– Key dates: Scheduling notice dated October 8, 2026; prehearing staff report (nonpublic) December 29, 2026; hearing January 14, 2027; requests to appear by January 8, 2027; prehearing briefs January 7, 2027; posthearing briefs January 21, 2027; final party comments February 9, 2027
– Headline:
Certain Semiconductor Devices — ITC_337 (TRADE_REMEDY)
Summary:
The ITC determined not to review the ALJ’s Initial Determination (Order No. 8) granting GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.’s motion to amend the complaint and notice of investigation in Investigation No. 337-TA-1500. The amendment adds dependent claims 8–12 and 19 of U.S. Patent No. 8,507,983 to the asserted claims.
Key Details:
– Authority: INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
– Policy Type: ITC_337
– Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
– Key identifiers: Investigation No. 337-TA-1500; ALJ Order No. 8; U.S. Patent No. 8,507,983
– Key dates: Commission vote October 13, 2026
DOC (Department of Commerce — International Trade Administration)
– Headline:
High Purity Dissolving Pulp (Norway) — AD_CVD (TRADE_REMEDY)
Summary:
Commerce issued a final affirmative less-than-fair-value determination for high purity dissolving pulp from Norway. The final weighted-average dumping margins are 6.51 percent for Borregaard AS and 6.51 percent for all others. Suspension of liquidation continues from May 27, 2026; the ITC will make its injury determination within 45 days.
Key Details:
– Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
– Policy Type: AD_CVD
– Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
– Key identifiers: A-403-808
– Key dates: Applicable October 16, 2026; POI July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025; preliminary determination published May 27, 2026; suspension of liquidation continues from May 27, 2026
Source:
– Link: https://lawyerfanzhang.com/high-purity-dissolving-pulp-from-norway-final-affirmative-determination-of-sales-at-less-than-fair-value/
– Headline:
High Purity Dissolving Pulp (Brazil) — AD_CVD (TRADE_REMEDY)
Summary:
Commerce issued a final affirmative less-than-fair-value determination for dissolving pulp from Brazil. The final weighted-average dumping margins are 6.50 percent for Bracell Bahia Specialty Celulose S.A./Bracell SP Celulose Ltda. and 6.50 percent for all others; adjusted cash deposit rates are 6.40 percent. Suspension of liquidation continues from May 27, 2026; the ITC will decide injury within 45 days.
Key Details:
– Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
– Policy Type: AD_CVD
– Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
– Key identifiers: A-351-866
– Key dates: Applicable October 16, 2026; POI July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025; preliminary determination published May 27, 2026; suspension of liquidation continues from May 27, 2026
Source:
– Link: https://lawyerfanzhang.com/high-purity-dissolving-pulp-from-brazil-final-affirmative-determination-of-sales-at-less-than-fair-value/
– Headline:
High Purity Dissolving Pulp (Brazil) — AD_CVD (TRADE_REMEDY)
Summary:
Commerce issued a final affirmative countervailing duty determination for HPDP from Brazil, finding countervailable subsidies during the period January 1–December 31, 2024. Final subsidy rates are 9.37 percent for Bracell Bahia Specialty Cellulose S.A. and 9.37 percent for all others. Provisional measures began March 25, 2026 and lapsed July 23, 2026; any order will follow a final affirmative ITC injury determination.
Key Details:
– Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
– Policy Type: AD_CVD
– Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
– Key identifiers: C-351-867
– Key dates: Applicable October 16, 2026; preliminary determination published March 25, 2026; provisional measures discontinued on entries on/after July 23, 2026; alignment with companion AD investigation
Source:
– Link: https://lawyerfanzhang.com/high-purity-dissolving-pulp-from-brazil-final-affirmative-countervailing-duty-determination/
3) Key Takeaways (Factual)
– The ITC scheduled the final phase of its AD/CVD injury investigations on CBS from China, setting a January 14, 2027 hearing and related briefing deadlines.
– Commerce issued final AD determinations for HPDP from Norway and Brazil, with margins of 6.51 percent (Norway) and 6.50 percent (Brazil), and continued suspension of liquidation from May 27, 2026.
– Commerce issued a final CVD determination for HPDP from Brazil with subsidy rates of 9.37 percent for Bracell and all others.
– The ITC declined to review an ALJ decision allowing GlobalFoundries to add dependent patent claims to the Section 337 semiconductor investigation (337-TA-1500).
– Multiple proceedings now await ITC final injury determinations to determine whether orders will issue.
4) Full Source Links (Index)
– https://lawyerfanzhang.com/n-cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide-from-china-scheduling-of-the-final-phase-of-countervailing-duty-and-antidumping-duty-investigations/ (CBS — ITC final phase scheduling)
– https://lawyerfanzhang.com/certain-semiconductor-devices-products-containing-same-and-components-thereof-notice-of-commission-determination-not-to-review-an-initial-determination-to-amend-the-complaint-and-notice-of-investig/ (Semiconductor devices — Section 337 amendment)
– https://lawyerfanzhang.com/high-purity-dissolving-pulp-from-norway-final-affirmative-determination-of-sales-at-less-than-fair-value/ (HPDP Norway — AD final)
– https://lawyerfanzhang.com/high-purity-dissolving-pulp-from-brazil-final-affirmative-determination-of-sales-at-less-than-fair-value/ (HPDP Brazil — AD final)
– https://lawyerfanzhang.com/high-purity-dissolving-pulp-from-brazil-final-affirmative-countervailing-duty-determination/ (HPDP Brazil — CVD final)
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.
