U.S. Relations with the People's Republic of China (2005)

Internation Trade Administration (ITA)
Office of Public Affairs

FACT SHEET

Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations on Imports of Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Germany, the People's Republic of China, and Turkey

On December 1, the Department of Commerce announced its decision to initiate antidumping duty investigations on imports of Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from the People's Republic of China (PRC), Germany, and Turkey.

Next Steps: The International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or about December 27. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from these countries are injuring or threatening material injury to the domestic industry, the investigations will continue and the Department will make its preliminary antidumping duty determinations in April 2006. If the ITC makes negative preliminary injury determinations, the investigations will be terminated.

Petitioners: The petitions requesting these investigations were filed by Connecticut Steel Corporation (CT); Gerdau AmeriSteel U.S., Inc. (FL); Keystone Steel & Wire Company (IL); ISG Georgetown, Inc. (Mittal Steel U.S.A. Georgetown) (SC); and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills (CO).

Product Description: The merchandise subject to the scopes of these investigations is certain hot-rolled products of carbon steel and alloy steel, in coils, of approximately circular cross section, 4.75 mm or more, but 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; and (e) concrete reinforcing bars. Also excluded are free machining steel products (i.e., products that contain by weight one or more of the following elements: 0.03 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 are currently classifiable under subheadings 7213.91.3011, 7213.91.3015, 7213.91.3092, 7213.91.4500, 7213.91.6000, 7213.99.0030, 7213.99.0090, 7227.20.0000, and 7227.90.6050 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Initiated Dumping Margins:

COUNTRY	MARGIN
Germany	50.25 - 81.88%
PRC	321.76%
Turkey	29.23 - 77.76%

Case Calendar:

EVENT	DATE
Petitions Filed	November 10, 2005
DOC Initiation Date	November 30, 2005
ITC Preliminary Determinations	December 27, 2005
DOC Preliminary Determinations*	April 19, 2006
DOC Final Determinations*	July 3, 2006
ITC Final Determinations**	August 17, 2006
Issuance of Orders***	August 24, 2006

* These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.

** This will take place only in the event of a final affirmative determination by the Department of Commerce.

*** This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determination by both the Department and the ITC.

Import Statistics:

	2002	2003	2004
GERMANY
Volume (ST)	55,861	108,519	255,480
Value ($US)	18,133,259	34,528,073	111,644,733
PRC
Volume (ST)	411,000	269,377	770,913
Value ($US)	86,617,181	61,034,079	304,248,482
TURKEY
Volume (ST)	491,006	416,368	781,644
Value ($US)	107,093,378	98,387,346	302,761,566

Source: USITC Dataweb