India and Thailand Steel Threaded Rod: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping investigations on steel threaded rod from India and Thailand (A-533-855, A-549-831) and countervailing duty investigation on steel threaded rod from India (C-533-856). The agency will determine whether imports of steel threaded rod from India and Thailand are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value, and whether imports from India are being illegally subsidized. A Commerce Department fact sheet said domestic petitioners alleged AD rates of 17.93 to 119.87 percent and CV rates of above de minimis for Indian exporters, and AD rates of 63.16 to 74.9 percent for Thai exporters (see 13071821).
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The AD period of investigation for India and Thailand is April 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013. The CVD period of investigation for India is Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2012.
AD/CVD Respondent Selection
Commerce said the petition named 69 producers or exporters of steel threaded rod from India, and 18 from Thailand. As is its practice when there are a lot of potential respondents, Commerce said it will rely on CBP data to pick the respondents. Comments on the CBP data and respondent selection are due by July 31. Commerce said it will pick respondents to the investigation by Aug. 13.
Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations
"The merchandise covered by these investigations is steel threaded rod. Steel threaded rod is certain threaded rod, bar, or studs, of carbon quality steel, having a solid, circular cross section, of any diameter, in any straight length, that have been forged, turned, cold-drawn, cold-rolled, machine straightened, or otherwise cold-finished, and into which threaded grooves have been applied. In addition, the steel threaded rod, bar, or studs subject to these investigations are nonheaded and threaded along greater than 25 percent of their total length. A variety of finishes or coatings, such as plain oil finish as a temporary rust protectant, zinc coating (i.e., galvanized, whether by electroplating or hot-dipping), paint, and other similar finishes and coatings, may be applied to the merchandise.
"Included in the scope of these investigations are steel threaded rod, bar, or studs, in which: (1) iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 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
- 0.012 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.
"Steel threaded rod is currently classifiable under subheadings 7318.15.5051, 7318.15.5056, 7318.15.5090 and 7318.15.2095 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. Although the HTS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
"Excluded from the scope of these investigations are: (a) threaded rod, bar, or studs which are threaded only on one or both ends and the threading covers 25 percent or less of the total length; and (b) threaded rod, bar, or studs made to American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) A193 Grade B7, ASTM A193 Grade B7M, ASTM A193 Grade B16, and ASTM A320 Grade L7."
Comments on Scope Due by Aug. 6
Commerce said that it discussed the scope with petitioners to ensure that it is an accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking relief. Comments on the scope are due by Aug. 6.
Investigations Timetable
| Event | AD Case | CV Case |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filed | 06/27/13 | 06/27/13 |
| DOC initiation date | 07/17/13 | 07/17/13 |
| ITC prelim determination1 | 08/12/13 | 08/12/13 |
| DOC prelim determination2 | 12/04/13 | 09/20/13 |
| DOC final determination2 | 02/18/14 | 12/04/13 |
| ITC final determination3 | 04/03/14 | 01/21/14 |
| Issuance of orders4 | 04/10/14 | 01/28/14 |
1If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.
2These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.
3This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.
4This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.
(See 13070207 for summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.)
Commerce Department fact sheet available (here).
Initiation notice for the AD duty investigations on steel threaded rod from India and Thailand (here).
Initiation notice for the CV duty investigation on steel threaded rod from India (here).