Domestic Steel Companies Ask for AD/CV Duties on Steel Wire Rod From China
A group of domestic steel companies on Jan. 31 requested new antidumping and countervailing duties on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from China (A-570-012/C-570-013). ArcelorMittal USA, Charter Steel, Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel, Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., Keystone Consolidated Industries, and Nucor Corporation allege increased imports of Chinese steel wire rod is reducing domestic industry’s market share. Underselling of Chinese wire rod is also forcing domestic companies to reduce prices, which is hurting their profitability, they said.
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Antidumping duties are already in place for steel wire rod from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, Trinidad and Tobago, and Ukraine. Domestic industry asked for antidumping duties on steel wire rod from China, as well as Germany and Turkey, in 2005, but the investigation ended with no duties imposed when the International Trade Commission found no indication of injury at the preliminary stage.
Proposed Scope
The domestic petitioners say their requested scope differs from that of past investigations in two ways: (1) there is no lower limit on diameter, and (2) there is no exclusion for grade 1080 tire cord quality wire rod or grade 1080 tire bead quality wire rod. The requested scope of the investigations is as follows:
“The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain hot-rolled products of carbon steel and alloy steel, in coils, of approximately round cross section, less than 19.00 mm, in solid cross-sectional diameter. Specifically excluded are steel products possessing the above-noted physical characteristics and meeting the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (‘HTSUS’) definitions for (a) stainless steel; (b) tool steel; (c) high nickel steel; (d) ball bearing steel; or (e) concrete reinforcing bars and rods. Also excluded are free cutting steel (also known as free machining steel) products (i.e., products that contain by weight one or more of the following elements: 0.1 percent or more of lead, 0.05 percent or more of bismuth, 0.08 percent or more of sulfur, more than 0.04 percent of phosphorus, more than 0.05 percent of selenium, or more than 0.01 percent of tellurium). All products meeting the physical description of subject merchandise that are not specifically excluded are included in this scope.
“The products under investigation are currently classifiable under subheadings 7213.91.3011, 7213.91.3015, 7213.91.3020, 7213.91.3093; 7213.91.4500, 7213.91 .6000, 7213.99.0030, 7227.20.0030, 7227.20.0080, 7227.90.6010, 7227.90.6020, 7227.90.6030, and 7227.90.6035 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.”
Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support
The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from China. Comments are due by about Feb. 20.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.