Commerce sets countervailing-duty rates on Korean corrosion-resistant steel, cash deposits effective on publication
Importers of Korean corrosion-resistant steel must post company-specific countervailing-duty cash deposits on entries made on or after 13 July 2026 and face CBP assessment at the final rates
Change
On 13 July 2026 Commerce published the final results of the countervailing duty administrative review of corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) from Korea for 2023, finding countervailable subsidies to KG Dongbu Steel, Hyundai Steel and six non-selected companies (including POSCO and SeAH entities), and directing CBP to assess countervailing duties and collect company-specific cash deposits on entries made on or after publication.
Why it matters
The final results fix binding countervailing-duty rates for the 2023 review period and create an immediate cash-deposit obligation: CBP will collect estimated countervailing duties at company-specific rates on CORE entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after 13 July 2026, effective on publication and remaining until further notice. Commerce will issue assessment instructions no earlier than 35 days after publication, and a timely summons at the Court of International Trade stays liquidation during the statutory injunction window. Non-reviewed firms continue at their most recent company-specific or the all-others rate.
Implications
- — Import compliance teams and customs brokers clearing CORE from Korea must post estimated countervailing-duty cash deposits at the applicable company-specific rate on entries entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after 13 July 2026 — deposits are effective on publication, so entries from that date are exposed to assessment if deposits are not posted.
- — Importers whose supplier is a non-reviewed firm must apply the most recent company-specific rate or the all-others rate as appropriate, and importers of the six non-selected companies' products (POSCO and SeAH entities) must apply the weighted-average rate Commerce assigned — using an incorrect rate basis risks under-deposit and later assessment.
- — Importers and their trade counsel must decide whether to file a timely summons at the U.S. Court of International Trade to stay liquidation; if filed, CBP is directed not to liquidate relevant entries until the statutory injunction period expires within 90 days of publication.
Who is affected
- — Import compliance teams and customs brokers clearing Korean CORE through U.S. customs
- — U.S. importers sourcing from the reviewed, non-reviewed and non-selected Korean producers
- — Importers and trade counsel weighing a Court of International Trade summons
What to watch
- — Effective: 13 July 2026 — company-specific countervailing-duty cash deposits apply to entries entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after publication.
- — Assessment instructions: no earlier than 17 August 2026 (35 days after publication) — Commerce intends to issue CBP assessment instructions.
- — Injunction window: within 90 days of publication — if a timely summons is filed at the Court of International Trade, CBP is directed not to liquidate relevant entries until it expires.