US–China Trade Daily Highlights | 2026-03-16

1) Executive Summary

Today’s summary covers eight events published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) in the Federal Register. The actions include final determinations and orders under the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) laws, continuation decisions, and administrative reviews. Authorities involved are primarily ITA’s Enforcement and Compliance units. Several events concern imports from the People’s Republic of China, while others reference Turkey, Italy, Korea, and Vietnam. The policy instruments involved include AD/CVD investigations, final determinations, sunset reviews, and continuation of orders.

2) Updates by Authority

Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Temporary Steel Fencing — Final CVD Determination and Critical Circumstances (China)
Commerce issued its final affirmative countervailing duty determination and final affirmative determination of critical circumstances in part concerning temporary steel fencing from the People’s Republic of China. The agency determined that countervailable subsidies were provided during the 2024 investigation period.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • China Indicator: EXPLICIT
  • Companies: Hebei Minmetals Co., Ltd. (49.19%), Shijiazhuang SD Co., Ltd. (178.97%), others (178.97%), All Others (49.19%)
  • Date: March 16 2026
  • Determinations include application of adverse facts available (AFA) for non‑cooperating firms.

Source: Federal Register Notice – Temporary Steel Fencing CVD Final Determination

Temporary Steel Fencing — Final LTFV Determination and Critical Circumstances (China)
Commerce announced its final affirmative determination of sales at less than fair value (LTFV) for imports of temporary steel fencing from China. It found critical circumstances in part and set company‑specific dumping margins.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • China Indicator: EXPLICIT
  • Dumping margins: Separate‑rate companies 129.70%; China‑wide entity 184.27%.
  • The finding covers a wide range of exporter/producer combinations.

Source: Federal Register Notice – Temporary Steel Fencing LTFV Final Determination

Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes — AD and CVD Orders (China)
Following affirmative final determinations by Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Department issued antidumping and countervailing duty orders on polypropylene corrugated boxes from China. Both pricing and subsidy findings were positive, and duties will continue on future imports.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • China Indicator: EXPLICIT
  • Dumping margin (China‑wide): 83.64% (adjusted 82.21%); CVD rate 62.27%.
  • Orders effective March 16 2026.

Source: Federal Register Notice – Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes Orders

Pentafluoroethane (R‑125) — Final Antidumping Review 2023‑2024 (China)
Commerce determined that Zhejiang Sanmei Ind. Co., Ltd. and affiliates sold R‑125 at less than normal value during the 2023‑2024 period. Zhejiang Yonghe Refrigerant Co., Ltd. remains part of the China‑wide entity.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • China Indicator: EXPLICIT
  • Dumping margin: Sanmei Companies 48.67%; China‑wide entity 267.51% (unchanged).
  • Date: March 16 2026.

Source: Federal Register Notice – R‑125 Final Results 2023‑2024

Tow‑Behind Lawn Groomers — Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order (China)
Commerce announced the continuation of the AD order on tow‑behind lawn groomers and certain parts thereof from China after the ITC determined that revocation would likely lead to continued or recurring dumping and material injury.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • China Indicator: EXPLICIT
  • Continuation effective March 10 2026; next five‑year review scheduled before the fifth anniversary.

Source: Federal Register Notice – Lawn Groomers Continuation

Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar — Sunset Review (Türkiye)
Commerce completed the expedited second sunset review of the countervailing duty order on steel concrete reinforcing bar from the Republic of Türkiye, finding that revocation would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • Net subsidy rates: İÇDAŞ 7.71%; All Others 6.58%; HABAS excluded.
  • Date: March 16 2026.

Source: Federal Register Notice – Rebar from Türkiye Sunset Review

Certain Pasta — Final Antidumping Review 2023‑2024 (Italy)
Commerce finalized its review of the antidumping duty order on certain pasta from Italy, finding sales below normal value.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • Dumping margins: La Molisana 2.65%; Garofalo 7.00%; All Others (non‑selected) 5.21%.
  • Dated March 16 2026.

Source: Federal Register Notice – Pasta from Italy Final Results

Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) — Preliminary Antidumping Review 2023‑2024 (Korea)
Commerce preliminarily found that Korean producers, including NEXTEEL Co., Ltd. and SeAH Steel Corporation, did not sell OCTG at less than normal value during the 2023‑2024 period.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • Preliminary margins: NEXTEEL 0.00%; SeAH 0.00%; non‑selected companies 1.18% (average).
  • Date: March 16 2026.

Source: Federal Register Notice – OCTG Korea Preliminary Results

Oil Country Tubular Goods — Preliminary Antidumping Review 2023‑2024 (Vietnam)
Commerce preliminarily determined that SeAH Steel VINA Corporation sold OCTG from Vietnam at less than normal value and set a dumping rate of 12.84%. The review was rescinded in part for two firms with no suspended entries.

Key Details:

  • Authority: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, International Trade Administration
  • Policy Type: AD_CVD
  • Event Type: TRADE_REMEDY
  • China Indicator: NONE
  • Dumping margin: 12.84% for SeAH VINA; Vietnam‑wide entity 111.47% (unchanged).
  • Date: March 16 2026.

Source: Federal Register Notice – OCTG Vietnam Preliminary Results

3) Key Takeaways (Factual)

  • Commerce finalized both antidumping and countervailing duty determinations on temporary steel fencing from China, finding significant subsidy and dumping margins.
  • The Department issued new AD and CVD orders on polypropylene corrugated boxes from China following ITC injury findings.
  • An AD order on tow‑behind lawn groomers from China was continued after five‑year review.
  • One Chinese product, R‑125 refrigerant, remains under review with a final dumping margin near 49%.
  • Other trade‑remedy updates include reviews for Turkey (rebar), Italy (pasta), Korea (OCTG), and Vietnam (OCTG).
  • No new actions were announced by agencies other than Commerce in this cycle.

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.