EAPA Case Number 7454: Blue Star Global, Inc. and Lino International Inc. (Notice of Determination as to Evasion, February 8, 2021)

WASHINGTON—On February 8, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued its determination as to evasion by Blue Star Global, Inc. (Blue Star) and Lino International Inc. (Lino). The determination is a result of the agency’s Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigation, EAPA Case 7454, into the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders for cast-iron soil pipe (soil pipe) from the People’s Republic of China (China). CBP found substantial evidence that Blue Star and Lino evaded AD/CVD orders A-570-079 and C-570-080 by transshipping soil pipe through Cambodia. The companies failed to properly report these entries and post the appropriate cash deposits. Furthermore, CBP determined that Lino set up a front company during its investigation to evade CBP’s interim measures.

In light of CBP’s determination that Blue Star and Lino entered covered merchandise into the customs territory of the United States through evasion, and pursuant to its authorities under EAPA, CBP will continue to:

• Suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries already suspended under this investigation and entries subject to this investigation;
• Rate adjust and change entries subject to this investigation to Entry Type 03;
• Reject any entry summaries and require a re-file for entries that are within the entry summary reject period;
• Require “live” entry for all imports of aluminum extrusions meeting the evasion criteria, requiring the importer to submit proper documentation and all duties prior to release of the merchandise; and
• Require single transaction bonds, as appropriate, and evaluate the sufficiency of the importer’s continuous bonds.

These actions do not preclude CBP from taking additional enforcement measures as it determines appropriate under its EAPA or other legal authorities, which include pursuing civil penalties or investigations into criminal violations.

This is one of two evasion determinations issued on February 8. For more Information about EAPA Case 7455 in the Determination as to Evasion. For additional information on CBP and EAPA, please visit EAPA Trade Enforcement page. If you suspect an importer of duty evasion, CBP encourages you to submit an allegation through our online portal.

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