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Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Steel Wire Rod From 10 Countries

A group of domestic steel producers recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Belarus, Italy, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, and new countervailing duties on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy and Turkey. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on steel wire rod from these countries.

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The petition was filed by Gerdau Ameristeel, Nucor, Keystone Consolidated Industries and Charter Steel. If duties are eventually imposed, they would come on top of existing antidumping duty orders on steel wire rod from Brazil, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, and Trinidad and Tobago, and countervailing duty orders on steel wire rod from Brazil and China.

Proposed Scope

The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:

The merchandise covered by these investigations are certain hot-rolled products of carbon steel and alloy steel, in coils, of approximately round cross section, less than 19.00 mm in actual 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 phosphorous, 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 1213.91.3011, 1213.91.3015, 7213.91.3020, 7213.91.3093; 7213.91.4500, 7213.91.6000, 7213.99.0030, 1227.20.0030, 7227 .20.0080, 1221 .90.6010, 7227.90.6020, 1221.90.6030 and 7227.90.6035 of the HTSUS. Products entered under subheadings 7213.99.0090 and 1227.90.6090 of the HTSUS also may be included in this scope if they meet the physical description of subject merchandise above. 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. Comments are due April 16.

Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.