Steel and Glass Orders Cascade as Commerce Targets China, Korea, and Türkiye in Heavy Enforcement Week

Executive Summary

This week marks one of the most enforcement-heavy periods of 2026 so far, with new antidumping and countervailing duty orders on float glass from China and Malaysia (FR Doc 2026-06649, 2026-06647) taking immediate effect alongside final AD review results for steel rebar from Türkiye (FR Doc 2026-06559) and carbon/alloy steel wire rod from Korea (FR Doc 2026-06678). For importers of construction materials, industrial glass, and steel products, the compliance burden just increased substantially — and the financial exposure is measured in the hundreds of millions.

Simultaneously, Commerce has initiated a country-wide circumvention inquiry on corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE) from Korea (FR Doc 2026-06449), examining whether Korean steel components completed in Thailand are being used to evade existing AD/CVD orders. This is a critical development for any importer sourcing CORE from Thailand, as a positive circumvention finding would retroactively apply duties. The inquiry was filed by Nucor Corporation and Steel Dynamics, Inc., the two largest domestic steel producers, signaling that the domestic industry is aggressively pursuing enforcement.

On the macro front, the U.S. trade deficit widened to -$57.3 billion in February 2026, up from -$54.7 billion in January, while the Import Price Index climbed to 144.0 — its highest reading in over a year. The PPI for Manufacturing surged to 257.3, indicating cost pressures are building through the supply chain. These inflationary signals make it unlikely that any duty relief is coming from the policy side.

This week, you should: (1) Immediately verify your supply chain exposure to float glass from China and Malaysia — new CVD/AD orders are now in effect; (2) If you source corrosion-resistant steel through Thailand, engage counsel now on the circumvention inquiry before the comment period closes; (3) Review the wave of five-year sunset reviews on Chinese products (steel cylinders, chassis, mattresses, shelving, engines, wire strand) for any exposure in your product lines; (4) Calendar all compliance deadlines from this week's notices — several fall within 30-45 days.

The Week In Numbers

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Key takeaway: The Import Price Index is now at its highest level since early 2024, rising 1.3% month-over-month. Combined with PPI Manufacturing jumping 1.6%, importers are facing a dual squeeze from rising input costs and expanding trade remedy duties. The trade-weighted dollar's slight softening provides no meaningful offset. The widening trade deficit — now at its worst since the December 2025 spike of -$72.9 billion — suggests import volumes remain robust even as duties accumulate, meaning tariff costs are being absorbed rather than deterring trade flows.

Key Signals This Week

Signal 1: Float Glass — New AD/CVD Orders on China and Malaysia

• What happened: Commerce issued countervailing duty orders on float glass products from China and Malaysia (FR Doc 2026-06649) and a separate antidumping duty order on float glass from China (FR Doc 2026-06647). These are final orders based on affirmative determinations by both Commerce and the ITC.
• Who is affected: Importers of float glass products classified under HS subheadings in Chapter 70 (flat glass), including construction companies, window manufacturers, automotive glass suppliers, and solar panel fabricators sourcing from China and Malaysia.
• Estimated financial impact: Float glass from China represents an estimated $800M-$1.2B in annual U.S. imports. CVD and AD duties combined could add 15-45% to landed costs depending on the producer-specific rates assigned.
• Recommended action: Immediately audit your glass supply chain. If sourcing float glass from China or Malaysia, request your customs broker to confirm the specific AD/CVD duty rates applicable to your supplier. Begin qualifying alternative suppliers in India, Thailand, or Turkey — lead time for supplier qualification is typically 60-90 days.
• Deadline: Orders are effective immediately upon publication (April 6, 2026). All entries from this date forward are subject to duty deposits.
• Risk if ignored: Cash deposit requirements apply immediately. Importers who continue entering float glass without depositing estimated duties face potential penalties and retroactive duty assessments.

Signal 2: Corrosion-Resistant Steel — Korea-Thailand Circumvention Inquiry

• What happened: Commerce initiated a country-wide circumvention inquiry on corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE) from Korea (FR Doc 2026-06449). The inquiry examines whether CORE from Korea, completed in Thailand using Korean components, circumvents existing AD/CVD orders on CORE from Korea.
• Who is affected: Any importer sourcing corrosion-resistant steel (galvanized, galvalume, Galvanneal, painted steel) classified under HS 7210, 7212, 7215, 7217, 7225, and 7226 from Thailand — especially if the steel originates as substrate from Korean mills.
• Estimated financial impact: CORE from Korea carries combined AD/CVD rates of approximately 15-60% depending on the producer. If circumvention is found, these rates would apply retroactively to Thai-completed CORE.
• Recommended action: (1) If you source any coated/plated steel from Thailand, immediately request certificates of origin and mill certificates tracing the steel substrate to its country of melt and pour. (2) Engage trade counsel to file comments in the circumvention inquiry if you are an affected importer. (3) Begin qualifying alternative sources — Vietnam, India, or domestic — as a contingency.
• Deadline: Comment period deadlines will be published in a subsequent Federal Register notice. Preliminary determination expected within 90 days of initiation.
• Risk if ignored: A positive circumvention finding would mean retroactive duty liability on all CORE entries from Thailand dating back to the initiation of the inquiry. Financial exposure could be $500K-$5M+ per importer depending on volume.

Signal 3: Steel Rebar from Türkiye — Final AD Review Results

• What happened: Commerce issued final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from Türkiye for the period July 2023 – June 2024 (FR Doc 2026-06559). Commerce determined that certain Turkish producers/exporters made sales at less than normal value.
• Who is affected: Construction companies, rebar distributors, and reinforcing steel importers sourcing from Turkish mills under HS subheadings 7213.10 and 7214.20.
• Estimated financial impact: Turkey is a major rebar supplier to the U.S. market. Affirmed dumping margins will result in updated cash deposit rates — specific rates pending publication of the full results but historically range from 3-15% for individually investigated producers.
• Recommended action: Contact your Turkish rebar supplier to confirm their specific AD rate. If rates have increased, renegotiate FOB prices or evaluate Mexican, Brazilian, or domestic sources.
• Deadline: New cash deposit rates effective upon publication of liquidation instructions, typically within 15 business days.
• Risk if ignored: Failure to adjust cash deposits means potential under-collection and retroactive duty assessments at liquidation.

Signal 4: Steel Rebar from Algeria — Final CVD Determination

• What happened: Commerce issued a final affirmative countervailing duty determination on steel rebar from Algeria for the POI January – December 2024 (FR Doc 2026-06265).
• Who is affected: Importers sourcing rebar from Algeria, primarily Algerian state-owned steel producers.
• Estimated financial impact: Algeria is a growing source of rebar for U.S. construction. CVD rates will depend on the subsidy programs found — historical CVD rates for Algerian steel have ranged from 5-25%.
• Recommended action: Reassess Algeria as a sourcing option for rebar. With both AD and CVD now likely in place, the total duty burden may make Algerian rebar uncompetitive. Evaluate Egypt, Türkiye (despite its own AD), or domestic sources.
• Deadline: ITC injury determination pending — if affirmative, CVD order will be issued within approximately 7-10 days.
• Risk if ignored: If both AD/CVD orders are issued, importers face combined duty rates that could exceed 30%, making continued sourcing from Algeria economically unviable.

Signal 5: OCTG from Austria, Taiwan, and UAE — New AD/CVD Investigations

• What happened: The ITC instituted antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Austria, Taiwan, and UAE (FR Doc 2026-06689). Investigation numbers: 701-TA-791 and 731-TA-1779-1781.
• Who is affected: Oil and gas companies, OCTG distributors, and energy sector procurement teams sourcing tubular goods under HS subheadings 7304.29, 7305.20, and 7306.29.
• Estimated financial impact: The U.S. OCTG market is worth approximately $8-10 billion annually. If preliminary duties are imposed, importers from these three countries could face deposit rates of 10-40%.
• Recommended action: (1) Audit your OCTG supply chain exposure to Austria, Taiwan, and UAE. (2) If significant, begin qualifying alternative sources now — Japan, India, and Argentina are major OCTG exporters not currently under investigation. (3) Lock in pricing with current suppliers before preliminary determinations.
• Deadline: ITC preliminary determination due by May 18, 2026. Views transmitted to Commerce by May 26, 2026.
• Risk if ignored: An affirmative preliminary determination triggers provisional duty deposits on all subsequent entries, potentially adding millions in unanticipated costs for large-volume OCTG importers.

Signal 6: Wave of Five-Year Sunset Reviews on Chinese Products

• What happened: The ITC simultaneously instituted five-year (sunset) reviews on multiple product categories from China: non-refillable steel cylinders (2026-06293), chassis and subassemblies (2026-06292), mattresses (2026-06290 — also Cambodia, Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam), small vertical shaft engines (2026-06289), prestressed concrete steel wire strand (2026-06288), and boltless steel shelving (2026-06287).
• Who is affected: Importers, distributors, and retailers of propane cylinders, trailer chassis, mattresses, lawn equipment engines, construction wire, and storage shelving — a remarkably broad cross-section of consumer and industrial products.
• Estimated financial impact: These orders collectively cover billions of dollars in annual trade. Continuation (the likely outcome in ~85% of sunset reviews) means existing duties remain in place for another five years.
• Recommended action: (1) If you import any of these products, file an entry of appearance before the deadline to participate in the review. (2) Review whether your product has changed sufficiently to warrant a scope exclusion request. (3) For mattress importers specifically, note the multi-country scope — sourcing shifts to other named countries will not avoid duties.
• Deadline: Response deadlines vary by review — typically 30 days from institution for entries of appearance, 50 days for substantive responses.
• Risk if ignored: Orders will almost certainly be continued, maintaining current duty rates for another five years. Non-participation means no opportunity to argue for revocation.

Signal 7: R-134a Refrigerant from China — Final AD Results Confirm Dumping

• What happened: Commerce determined that R-134a refrigerant from China was sold at less than normal value during the POR April 2023 – March 2024 (FR Doc 2026-06448).
• Who is affected: HVAC companies, automotive aftermarket suppliers, refrigeration equipment manufacturers, and anyone importing the refrigerant chemical 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) from China.
• Estimated financial impact: With the global phase-down of HFCs under the Kigali Amendment, R-134a pricing is already elevated. Additional AD duties of 10-25% on Chinese supply further tightens the market.
• Recommended action: Diversify R-134a sourcing to non-Chinese producers — Chemours (US), Honeywell (US/Mexico), and Daikin (Japan) are major alternatives. Secure forward contracts for Q3/Q4 needs before price adjustments propagate.
• Deadline: Updated cash deposit rates effective upon publication.
• Risk if ignored: R-134a is a price-inelastic input for HVAC and automotive. Failure to lock in supply means exposure to both duty increases and speculative pricing.

HS Code Watch List

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Product Category Deep Dives

Deep Dive 1: Float Glass — China and Malaysia Under New AD/CVD Orders

Current duty structure: Prior to this week, float glass from China and Malaysia faced only MFN tariff rates of approximately 3-6% under HS Chapter 70. As of April 6, 2026, both CVD orders (China and Malaysia, FR Doc 2026-06649) and an AD order (China only, FR Doc 2026-06647) are in effect. Combined duty rates are expected to range from 15-45% above MFN, depending on producer-specific margins.

What's changing: These are brand-new orders, meaning this is the first time float glass from these origins faces trade remedy duties. This fundamentally alters the sourcing economics for a product used in construction (windows, facades), automotive (windshields, side glass), solar energy (panel covers), and furniture/interior applications.

Price impact model: Assuming a mid-range combined AD/CVD rate of 25% on an average CIF value of $400-600/metric ton, importers face an additional $100-150/MT in duty costs. For a mid-size glass distributor importing 5,000 MT annually, this represents $500K-$750K in additional annual costs. These costs will ultimately flow through to construction budgets and housing costs.

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Action checklist: (1) Request your customs broker to confirm the specific AD/CVD rates for your Chinese/Malaysian suppliers — rates vary by producer (within 48 hours). (2) Issue RFQs to Indian and Turkish float glass producers for Q3 delivery (within 1 week). (3) Review existing purchase orders with Chinese suppliers — any goods not yet exported can potentially be redirected or canceled (within 72 hours). (4) Evaluate USMCA-compliant Mexican sources for time-sensitive projects. (5) Adjust project budgets for any construction bids that assumed pre-order glass pricing.

Deep Dive 2: Steel — Multi-Front Enforcement Across Rebar, CORE, and Wire Rod

This week's steel-related actions are unprecedented in their breadth, touching rebar (Türkiye and Algeria), corrosion-resistant steel (Korea/Thailand circumvention), wire rod (Korea review), and OCTG (Austria/Taiwan/UAE new investigations).

Current duty structure: The U.S. steel trade remedy landscape is already the most complex in the world, with over 400 active AD/CVD orders on steel products. This week adds or modifies duties across multiple product categories.

What's changing for rebar: Turkish rebar faces updated AD rates from the 2023-2024 review (FR Doc 2026-06559), while Algerian rebar faces a new CVD determination (FR Doc 2026-06265). Combined with existing Section 232 tariffs of 25%, the total duty burden on imported rebar from most sources now exceeds 40-50% of FOB value.

What's changing for CORE: The circumvention inquiry on Korean CORE completed in Thailand (FR Doc 2026-06449) is potentially the most disruptive action this week. Many importers shifted CORE sourcing to Thailand specifically to avoid Korean AD/CVD duties. If Commerce finds circumvention, all those imports face retroactive duty liability — meaning past entries, not just future ones, will be assessed duties.

Price impact model: For a construction materials distributor importing 10,000 MT of rebar annually from Türkiye at an average $700/MT CIF, a 5-percentage-point increase in the AD rate translates to $350K in additional annual duty costs. For CORE importers from Thailand, retroactive duties could generate one-time liabilities of $1-10M depending on historical import volumes.

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Action checklist: (1) Map your complete steel supply chain by product, origin, and HS code — know exactly where your exposure lies (this week). (2) For CORE from Thailand, pull all entry records and calculate potential retroactive duty liability under various rate scenarios (within 2 weeks). (3) For rebar from Türkiye, contact your supplier to understand their specific producer rate — POSCO-style outcomes (no dumping found) are possible. (4) Consider domestic procurement for critical near-term needs while international sourcing uncertainties resolve. (5) File comments in the CORE circumvention inquiry if you are an affected party.

Deep Dive 3: OCTG — New Investigations Target Austria, Taiwan, and UAE

Current duty structure: OCTG already faces AD/CVD duties from numerous countries including Korea, China, India, Thailand, and others. The new investigations (FR Doc 2026-06689) expand the net to Austria, Taiwan, and the UAE — three countries that have benefited from OCTG demand shifts as importers sought duty-free sources.

What's changing: The ITC has commenced preliminary phase investigations (701-TA-791 and 731-TA-1779-1781) with a determination deadline of May 18, 2026. If the ITC finds a reasonable indication of injury, Commerce will proceed to preliminary duty determinations, likely by September-October 2026, at which point provisional duties would take effect.

Price impact model: U.S. OCTG consumption is heavily influenced by oil and gas drilling activity. With rig counts relatively stable, demand is steady at approximately $8-10 billion annually. Austria, Taiwan, and UAE collectively supply an estimated $500M-$1B of this market. Preliminary AD/CVD rates of 15-30% would add $75-300M in annual duty costs to the energy sector's procurement budgets.

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Action checklist: (1) Quantify your OCTG sourcing from Austria, Taiwan, and UAE as a percentage of total procurement (this week). (2) If exposure exceeds 20% of volume, begin qualifying alternative sources immediately — Argentina and Brazil are the most attractive duty-free options. (3) Lock in pricing and volume commitments with current Austrian/Taiwanese/UAE suppliers through Q2 2026 before any preliminary duties apply. (4) Monitor the ITC preliminary determination on May 18 — this is the first critical decision point. (5) If you are a domestic OCTG producer, consider filing in support of the petition to protect market share.

Strategic Analysis

The CORE Circumvention Inquiry: Southeast Asia's Transshipment Problem Reaches a Tipping Point

The initiation of a country-wide circumvention inquiry on corrosion-resistant steel products from Korea completed in Thailand (FR Doc 2026-06449) is arguably the most strategically significant trade action of this week — not because of its immediate scope, but because of what it signals about the future of Southeast Asian transshipment as a trade remedy avoidance strategy.

The Development: Nucor Corporation and Steel Dynamics — America's two largest steel producers with combined annual revenues exceeding $50 billion — filed the circumvention request. Commerce's decision to initiate a country-wide inquiry (rather than company-specific) signals that the agency sees this as a systemic issue, not an isolated case. The allegation is straightforward: Korean steel mills export substrate and semi-finished CORE to Thailand, where minimal processing (coating, cutting, or minor fabrication) occurs before re-export to the United States as "Thai-origin" product, thereby avoiding the 15-60% AD/CVD duties applicable to Korean CORE.

Historical Parallel: This pattern mirrors the 2018-2020 circumvention findings on Chinese steel routed through Vietnam. In that case, Commerce found that Vietnamese processors were performing only minor operations on Chinese hot-rolled steel before exporting coated products to the U.S. The result was devastating for importers: retroactive duties were applied to two years of entries, generating liabilities that bankrupted several small importing companies. The Vietnam steel circumvention case ultimately led to the imposition of Section 301-style duties on Vietnamese steel and fundamentally reshaped sourcing patterns across Southeast Asia.

Stakeholder Map: On the petitioner side, Nucor (Charlotte, NC) and Steel Dynamics (Fort Wayne, IN) have been the most aggressive enforcers of trade remedies in the steel sector, filing dozens of petitions over the past decade. They are supported by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA). On the opposing side, major Korean steel producers — particularly POSCO and Hyundai Steel — have significant investments in Thai processing facilities. Thai processors like Sahaviriya Steel Industries and G Steel would also be directly impacted. U.S. importers, represented by the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS), generally oppose circumvention findings but have been losing this battle consistently.

Supply Chain Implications: The second-order effects are substantial. If Thailand is found to be a circumvention route for Korean CORE, importers will need to find yet another alternative source for coated steel. The obvious next destinations — Vietnam and Indonesia — are already under scrutiny for similar transshipment patterns. This creates a cascading effect where each circumvention finding redirects trade to the next cheapest available source, which then becomes the next target. The net effect is a steady erosion of all low-cost sourcing options, pushing importers toward either domestic procurement (at higher prices) or sourcing from countries with free trade agreements (Mexico, Canada, Australia, Korea itself at duty-inclusive prices).

Three Scenarios:

(1) Best case (20% probability): Commerce finds that Thai processing constitutes substantial transformation and the inquiry results in a negative determination. Thai CORE continues to enter duty-free. This outcome is unlikely given the agency's recent track record but possible if Thai processors can demonstrate genuine value-added operations.

(2) Base case (60% probability): Commerce finds circumvention for most but not all Thai processors. Company-specific findings allow some Thai CORE to continue entering without Korean-origin duties, while others face full duty extension. This creates a bifurcated market where approved Thai processors gain pricing power.

(3) Worst case (20% probability): A blanket country-wide circumvention finding applies Korean AD/CVD rates to all CORE entering from Thailand, regardless of processor. Retroactive duties are assessed on entries dating back to the initiation date. Multiple importers face six- and seven-figure duty assessments. CORE sourcing from Thailand effectively ceases.

The Contrarian Take: Most market participants are focused on the direct impact — will Thai CORE face duties? But the more important question is whether this inquiry accelerates the broader trend toward supply chain onshoring in steel. With CORE duties now covering China, Korea (partially), potentially Thailand, and with Section 232 tariffs of 25% on most other sources, the U.S. domestic steel industry is approaching what it has long sought: effective import substitution for coated flat-rolled steel. The irony is that this may ultimately prove inflationary for construction and manufacturing costs, as domestic CORE pricing — already at a premium — faces even less competitive pressure from imports. Importers who think of this as a sourcing problem may be missing the forest for the trees: this is a structural shift in the U.S. steel market that will persist regardless of individual circumvention outcomes.

Compliance Deadlines Calendar

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China LATAM EU APAC Trade Monitor

China

This week delivers an extraordinary concentration of China-targeted actions. New float glass AD/CVD orders (FR Doc 2026-06649, 2026-06647), R-134a final AD results (2026-06448), polyethylene bag preliminary results (2026-06560), and a wave of five-year sunset reviews on steel cylinders, chassis, mattresses, engines, wire strand, and shelving — all from China — demonstrate that the enforcement apparatus shows no signs of fatigue. Commerce also extended the deadline for determining adequacy of AD/CVD petitions on lithium hexafluorophosphate from China (2026-06128), a critical battery chemical, signaling potential new duties in the EV supply chain. The L-lysine investigation entering its final phase (2026-06529) adds animal feed inputs to the growing list of Chinese products under trade remedy orders. Total China-targeted active orders now likely exceed 500, covering virtually every major industrial and consumer product category. The message to importers is clear: any China-sourced product should be evaluated for trade remedy exposure as a standard procurement practice.

Latin America

The fresh tomatoes from Mexico certification extension (FR Doc 2026-06420) provides temporary relief but underscores the ongoing complexity of USMCA agricultural trade. Importers bringing Mexican tomatoes for processing now have until April 15, 2026 to fulfill certification requirements for entries made since February 18. Separately, the steel rebar CVD determination on Algeria (2026-06265) — while technically an African country — has LATAM implications because many Latin American rebar producers (Brazil, Mexico, Peru) stand to gain market share as Algerian supply becomes less competitive. Mexican and Brazilian rebar exporters should see increased U.S. demand as the ring of AD/CVD duties around rebar tightens. The US-Australia FTA TRQ notice (2026-06207) provides a template for the kind of preferential access that LATAM exporters, particularly under USMCA, continue to leverage — nearshoring advantages compound when competitors face new duties.

EU

European trade developments this week center on Austrian OCTG now under investigation (FR Doc 2026-06689). Voestalpine, Austria's flagship steel producer, is the primary target and has significant U.S. customer relationships in the energy sector. The inclusion of Austria in the OCTG investigation is notable because EU member states have generally been less targeted by AD/CVD actions than Asian producers. This signals a potential expansion of trade remedy enforcement to European producers who may have benefited from being perceived as "fair traders." Additionally, the non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) sunset reviews (2026-06576) include Germany and Sweden, two major EU steel producers. The continuation of these orders — which is the expected outcome — means that EU electrical steel remains effectively locked out of the U.S. market at competitive prices, with implications for transformer and EV motor supply chains.

APAC

The APAC trade story this week is dominated by the CORE circumvention inquiry implicating Thailand (2026-06449) and the OCTG investigations targeting Taiwan and the UAE (2026-06689). Taiwan's OCTG exposure is significant — Taiwanese mills have been gaining U.S. market share as traditional Asian suppliers (Korea, India) face increasing duties. The non-oriented electrical steel sunset reviews also cover Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (2026-06576), further constraining APAC electrical steel supply to the U.S. For Southeast Asia specifically, the Thailand CORE circumvention inquiry is a warning shot for Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia — all countries where Chinese and Korean steel is processed for re-export. The NOES reviews covering Japan and Korea combined with the wire rod review clearing POSCO (2026-06678, finding no dumping) create a mixed picture: Korea gets relief on wire rod but faces escalating scrutiny on CORE. Importers should expect APAC-sourced steel to face increasing compliance costs regardless of specific country of origin.

What Were Watching Next Week

1. ITC Vote on Float Glass Injury (Week of April 13)

• What: Following the new AD/CVD orders, watch for any ITC follow-up actions or clarifications on scope and coverage.
• Why it matters: Scope definitions for float glass can be complex — the boundary between covered and non-covered glass products will determine the full impact.
• Prepare: Request scope rulings from Commerce if your specific glass product is ambiguous.

2. CORE Circumvention Inquiry Comment Period Opens

• What: Commerce will publish the specific terms of the circumvention inquiry, including deadlines for interested parties to file comments.
• Why it matters: This is the last opportunity to shape the inquiry before Commerce makes its preliminary determination. Early engagement significantly influences outcomes.
• Prepare: If you import CORE from Thailand, have your trade counsel draft initial comments and gather supply chain documentation (mill certificates, processing records).

3. March 2026 Trade Balance Data Release (Expected Mid-April)

• What: The Census Bureau will release detailed March trade data, including bilateral trade balances by country and product category.
• Why it matters: February's -$57.3 billion deficit was already widening. If March shows further deterioration, expect political pressure for additional trade enforcement actions — this is an election year, and trade deficits are a reliable political football.
• Prepare: Review your import volumes for Q1 2026 against budget projections. Rising import costs from new duties may partially offset volume increases.

4. Lithium Hexafluorophosphate Petition Adequacy Deadline

• What: Commerce extended the deadline (FR Doc 2026-06128) for determining whether the AD/CVD petitions on this critical battery chemical from China are adequate to initiate investigations.
• Why it matters: LiPF6 is a critical input for lithium-ion battery electrolytes. AD/CVD duties would directly impact EV battery costs and could accelerate domestic electrolyte production investments.
• Prepare: EV and battery supply chain participants should monitor this closely and begin contingency planning for non-Chinese LiPF6 sources (Japan's Kanto Denka, South Korea's Soulbrain).

5. Five-Year Review Response Deadlines Begin

• What: Deadlines for filing entries of appearance and substantive responses in the wave of five-year sunset reviews (steel cylinders, chassis, mattresses, shelving, engines, wire strand from China and others).
• Why it matters: Non-participation in sunset reviews virtually guarantees continuation of existing orders for another five years.
• Prepare: If any of these product categories are in your supply chain, instruct counsel to file an entry of appearance immediately to preserve your right to participate.