Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination Against Australian Silicon Metal Producers

Strategic Insights -

A preliminary countervailing duty determination has been made against Australian producers and exporters of silicon metal, finding that they have received countervailable subsidies. This determination is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, which identified one individual exporter and producer, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd., with a countervailable subsidy rate of 41.31%. As a result, the Customs and Border Protection will suspend the liquidation of entries for this product from Australia and require a cash deposit on imports. The final conclusion of this determination will be aligned with the companion antidumping duty investigation and issued no later than February 3, 2026.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration has preliminarily determined that Australian producers and exporters of silicon metal are receiving countervailable subsidies.
  • The investigation identified one individual exporter and producer, Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd., which was assigned a countervailable subsidy rate of 41.31%.
  • The Customs and Border Protection will suspend the liquidation of entries for silicon metal from Australia and require a cash deposit on imports.
  • The preliminary determination was made on the basis of an investigation that spanned from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
  • The determination was made in accordance with section 703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930.
  • The final conclusion of this determination will be aligned with the companion antidumping duty investigation on the same product and will be issued no later than February 3, 2026.
  • Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd., the identified individual exporter and producer, is based in Wellesley, Australia.

Statistics:

  • Countervailable subsidy rate assigned to Simcoa Operations Pty Ltd.: 41.31%
  • Date of the preliminary determination: September 26, 2025
  • Date of the investigation: January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
  • Date of the final conclusion: no later than February 3, 2026
  • Date of the initiation of the countervailing duty investigation: May 21, 2025

Sources:

  • "Silicon Metal From Australia: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination" (Federal Register, September 26, 2025)
  • Targeted News Service, September 26, 2025