New Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Silicon Metal From Angola, Australia, Laos, Norway and Thailand

At a Glance

• Ferroglobe USA, Inc., and Mississippi Silicon LLC filed antidumping and/or countervailing duty petitions on silicon metal from Angola, Australia, Laos, Norway and Thailand.
• Investigations related to these petitions could result in increased prices and/or decreased supply of silicon metal.
• The U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to begin investigations on May 14, 2025.

On April 24, 2025, antidumping (AD) and/or countervailing duty (CVD) petitions were filed on silicon metal from Angola (AD only), Australia (AD/CVD), Laos (AD/CVD), Norway (AD/CVD), and Thailand (CVD only). The petitions were filed by Ferroglobe USA, Inc., and Mississippi Silicon LLC. (Petitioners).

The U.S. AD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States at less than “normal value.” The U.S. CVD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States with the benefit of foreign government subsidies. For AD/CVD duties to be imposed, the U.S. government must determine not only that dumping and/or subsidization is occurring, but also that there is “material injury” (or threat thereof) by reason of the dumped and/or subsidized imports. Importers are liable for any potential AD/CVD duties imposed. In addition, these investigations could impact purchasers by increasing prices and/or decreasing supply of silicon metal.

Scope

Please note that this section was not written by our authors but is taken verbatim from the petition.

The scope of this investigation covers all forms and sizes of silicon metal, including silicon metal powder. Silicon metal contains at least 85.00 percent but less than 99.99 percent silicon, and less than 4.00 percent iron, by actual weight. Semiconductor grade silicon (merchandise containing at least 99.99 percent silicon by actual weight and classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 2804.61.0000) is excluded from the scope of this investigation.

Silicon metal is currently classifiable under subheadings 2804.69.1000 and 2804.69.5000 of the HTSUS. While the HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope remains dispositive.

Estimated Dumping Margins

The Petitioner alleges dumping margins for the countries as follows:

• Angola: 67.78% (using market economy methodology) or 323.84% (using nonmarket economy methodology)
• Australia: 337.84%
• Laos: 92.00% (using market economy methodology) or 304.51% (using nonmarket economy methodology)
• Norway: 69.15%

The Petitioner also alleges subsidies with respect to imports from Australia, Laos, Norway and Thailand, although the petitions do not quantify the alleged net subsidy margins.

Estimated Schedule of Investigations

The following is an estimated schedule of investigations by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC):