Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department will defer issuing its preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation on aluminum foil from China. The deferral will allow the Commerce Department to fully analyze information pertaining to China’s status as a non-market economy (NME) country, which is being contemplated within the context of this AD investigation.

“In all cases, the Department conducts a full and fair assessment of the facts,” said Secretary Ross. “This extension will ensure that the highest standards are followed in this case as we seek to guarantee fair treatment for U.S. workers and businesses.”

Enforcement of U.S. trade law is a prime focus of the Trump administration. The antidumping duty law provides U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfairly priced imports into the United States. Secretary Ross has vowed to make use of all tools available to hold our trading partners accountable and a fulsome review of China’s NME status is the bedrock of this promise. Conducting a thorough and comprehensive inquiry on China’s NME status is critical to upholding the principle of fair trade.

The Department intends to issue its preliminary determination in this investigation, including a decision on China’s NME status, no later than November 30, 2017. A final determination will be made 75 days after this preliminary decision unless postponed at a later date.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade laws and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based solely on factual evidence.