China and Mexico Galvanized Wire: ITA Announces New AD/CV Investigations

(Galvanized steel wire is used in a variety of applications, such as agriculture, automotive, construction, consumer, and industrial uses. It is also an intermediate product used to make a multitude of wire products.)

China AD Q&V Questionnaires due May 25

According to the Q&V questionnaire, the ITA is requesting information on the quantity and U.S. dollar sales value of all sales of galvanized steel wire from China to the U.S. covered by the scope of the AD duty investigation during the period July 1 through December 31, 2010.

Q&V questionnaires are due by May 25, 2011. The Q&V questionnaire is available here.

China AD Separate Rate Apps due 60 Days after FR Publication

The ITA also requires exporters and producers seeking separate rate status in the China AD duty investigation to submit a separate rate application, which will be due 60 days from Federal Register publication date of the initiation notice. The separate rate application is available here.

(The ITA has previously stated that it requires that all non-market economy (NME) exporters/producers submit a response to both the Q&V questionnaire and the separate rate application in order to receive consideration for separate rate status.)

Alleged AD Margins and CV Rates

The fact sheet states that the alleged dumping margins for galvanized steel wire from China and Mexico range from 171.0% - 235.00% and from 166.00% - 244.00%, respectively.

The alleged subsidy rates for China are not specified, but the fact sheet states that they are above de minimis.

Scope of the AD/CV Investigations

According to the fact sheet, the merchandise covered by these investigations is galvanized steel wire which is a cold-drawn carbon quality steel product in coils, of solid, circular cross section with an actual diameter of 0.5842 mm (0.0230 inch) or more, plated or coated with zinc (whether by hot-dipping or electroplating). Steel products to be included in the scope of these investigations, regardless of Harmonized Tariff Schedule definitions, are products in which: (1) iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is two percent or less, by weight; and (3) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:

• 1.80 percent of manganese, or
• 1.50 percent of silicon, or
• 1.00 percent of copper, or
• 0.50 percent of aluminum, or
• 1.25 percent of chromium, or
• 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
• 0.40 percent of lead, or
• 1.25 percent of nickel, or
• 0.30 percent of tungsten, or
• 0.02 percent of boron, or
• 0.10 percent of molybdenum, or
• 0.10 percent of niobium, or
• 0.41 percent of titanium, or
• 0.15 percent of vanadium, or
• 0.15 percent of zirconium.

Imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under the following categories of the HTS: 7217.20.30 and 7217.20.45. Galvanized wire is reported under statistical reporting numbers 7217.20.3000, 7217.20.4510, 7217.20.4520, 7217.20.4530, 7217.20.4540, 7217.20.4550, 7217.20.4560, 7217.20.4570, and 7217.20.4580. These products may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 7229.20.0015, 7229.90.5008, 7229.90.5016, 7229.90.5031, and 7229.90.5051.

The ITA notes that these HTS numbers are provided for convenience and Customs purposes only; the written description of the scope is dispositive.

(See future issue of ITT for complete scope of the investigations to be published in the Federal Register.)

ITC to Make Prelim Injury Determinations by May 16, Etc.

The International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or about May 16, 2011.

If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China and Mexico are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic industry, the investigations will continue, and the ITA will be scheduled to make its CV preliminary determination in June 2011 and its AD preliminary determinations in September 2011.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/07/11 news, 11040746, for BP summary of the ITC's announcement of these preliminary injury investigations.)