Supply Chain Research

The U.S. Commerce Department has determined that Chinese exports of cast-iron soil pipes have been subsidized, allowing duties to be applied. The case is notable as it covers products not included in the recent section 232 review. It does, however, illustrate two challenges resulting from such cases. First is that alternative foreign supplies have taken up the slack – while imports from China fell 20% on a year earlier in the three months to April 30 those from other countries rose 127%. Second is that costs for homebuilders have increased with the average import cost per ton having rise...