The U.S. Commerce Department will proceed with an investigation of titanium sponge exports from Japan and Kazakhstan. That was the most recent of the 19 anti-dumping / countervailing duty and safeguarding petitions made since the start of President Trump’s administration. No new cases have been lodged since August 26. The peak month was March, with five AD/CV petitions and 10 intellectual property abuse petitions. In the meantime U.S. imports of titanium sponge in August were around 28% below their March peak and 13% down vs. July.