Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the final affirmative determination in the antidumping (AD) investigation of finished carbon steel flanges from Spain. The Department of Commerce, at request of relief from U.S. producers, has determined that exporters from Spain have been unfairly dumping these finished carbon steel flanges in the U.S. market at a rate ranging from 18.81 percent to 24.43 percent. Commerce based its determination “on adverse facts available” due to the respondent company’s failure to respond to Commerce’s requests for information. “The Department of Commerce is committed to protecting U.S. companies being hurt by foreign manufacturers that refuse to play fair,” said Secretary Ross. “The Trump administration is committed to enforcing our trade laws, and will continue to take swift action against unfair trade practices that hurt American workers and businesses.” In 2016, the imports of these finished carbon steel flanges from Spain were valued at an estimated $16.5 million. The petitioners for this investigation are Boltex Manufacturing Co., L.P. (Texas) and Weldbend Corporation (Ill.). Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing Duty (CVD) laws provide U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the injurious effects of dumping and unfairly subsidized imports into the United States. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is conducting an investigation to determine whether or not the domestic industry is injured or threatened with material injury by the dumped imports of finished carbon steel flanges from Spain. The ITC is currently scheduled to make its final injury determination on or before May 26. If the ITC makes an affirmative final injury determination, Commerce will issue an AD order. The Department of Commerce would then instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits equal to the dumping margins found on all imports of the subject product from Spain. These cash deposits provide U.S. businesses and workers with relief from the harmful of effects of dumped goods in the United States, ensuring each nation’s businesses play on a level field. If the ITC makes a negative final determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated and no orders will be issued.