US delays investigation on aluminum trade

The US Commerce Department announced yesterday that it will delay a decision on whether to investigate China’s currency practices on US aluminum extrusion manufacturers, Reuters reported. An unnamed Commerce Department official said that the US needs additional time on the specific case brought by the US aluminum extrusion industry. However, the US will launch a broader investigation on whether anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese aluminum extrusion exports are called for. China exported US$514 million worth of aluminum extrusions to the US in 2009.