15.09.2026 Regulation #USA #China #Import #Duties
US sets preliminary 66.61% CVD rate on Chinese tin mill products
The US Department of Commerce on September 15, 2026 published a preliminary affirmative countervailing duty (CVD) determination on tin mill products from China (Commerce case No. C-570-229) (Federal Register). Commerce set a uniform preliminary subsidy rate of 66.61% and preliminarily found critical circumstances, meaning cash deposits apply retroactively to entries made 90 days before publication. The period of investigation runs from January 1 to December 31, 2025 (govinfo).
Why every respondent got the same rate
Commerce applied adverse facts available (AFA) to both mandatory respondents, Shougang Holding Trade (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., stating that the exporters "did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce's requests for information" (govinfo). As a result, both companies and the all-others category received an identical preliminary rate of 66.61% (govinfo). Commerce did not conduct verification, which it normally performs ahead of a final determination, because of the respondents' non-cooperation.
Deposits reach back 90 days
Commerce preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist for both Shougang entities and for all other Chinese exporters of tin mill products. That means suspension of liquidation and cash deposit requirements apply not only to entries after publication but retroactively — to merchandise entered starting 90 days before the notice's publication, roughly from June 17, 2026 (govinfo). Importers who already cleared Chinese tin mill products during that window will owe a deposit at the 66.61% rate.
Scope and the codes affected
The investigation covers flat-rolled steel coated or plated with tin, chromium, or chromium oxides — tinplate and tin-free steel (govinfo). The determination lists the relevant US tariff subheadings under 7210, 7212, 7225 and 7226. The case was brought by United States Steel Corporation and the United Steelworkers union (trade.gov). Alongside the China CVD case, Commerce is also running separate antidumping investigations into tin mill products from China, Taiwan and Türkiye (trade.gov).
Final-determination timeline and brief deadlines
The final CVD determination is aligned with the final antidumping determination on China and is due no later than November 30, 2026 (govinfo). Interested parties may file case briefs within 30 days of publication of the preliminary determination, with rebuttal briefs due 5 days after that deadline (govinfo). In the parallel antidumping cases against Taiwan and Türkiye, Commerce has already postponed its preliminary determinations to November 5, 2026 (Federal Register); that notice does not address any postponement of the China antidumping preliminary determination. Until the final ruling, the 66.61% rate remains preliminary and may change based on the record developed during the investigation.
Primary sources
- Tin Mill Products From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination (Federal Register, 2026-18792)
- Tin Mill Products From China: Preliminary CVD Determination, full text (govinfo)
- Commerce Initiates AD and CVD Investigations of Tin Mill Products from China, Taiwan, and Türkiye (trade.gov)
- Tin Mill Products From Taiwan and Türkiye: Postponement of Preliminary Determination (Federal Register, 2026-16183)
- Tin Mill Products From Taiwan and Türkiye: Postponement notice, full text (govinfo)
- Tin Mill Products From China, Taiwan, and Turkey; Determinations (ITC, Federal Register 2026-10647)
Mentioned codes
This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.