Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of carbon and alloy steel wire rod (wire rod) from Italy, Korea, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, finding that producers/exporters in these countries have sold carbon and alloy steel wire rod in the United States at less than fair value.

“The dumping of goods below market value in the United States is something the Trump Administration takes very seriously,” said Secretary Ross. "The Department of Commerce will continue to stand up for American workers and business’s in order to ensure that everyone trades on a level playing field.”

In the Italy investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 22.06 percent (Ferriere Nord S.p.A) and 22.06 percent for Ferriera Valsider S.p.A based on adverse facts available. All other producers/exporters in Italy have been assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 22.06 percent.

In the Korea investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 10.09 percent for respondent POSCO. All other producers/exporters in Korea have been assigned a preliminarily dumping rate of 10.09 percent.

In the South Africa investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 142.26 percent (collapsed entity known as Scaw Metals Group and Consolidated Wire Industries) based on adverse facts available.  All other producers/exporters in South Africa were assigned a rate of 135.46 percent.

In the Spain investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 20.25 percent (Global Steel Wire, CELSA Atlantic SA, and Compania Espanola de Laminacion) and 32.64 percent for ArcelorMittal Espana S.A. based on adverse facts available.  All other producers/exporters have been assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 20.25 percent.

In the Turkey investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 2.80 percent (Habas Sinai ve Tibbi Gazlar Istihsal Endustrisi A.S.) and 8.01 percent (Icdas Celik Enerji Tersane ve Ulasim Sanayi A.S.). All other producers/exporters in Turkey have been assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 5.41 percent.

In the Ukraine investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 44.03 percent (ArcelorMittal Steel Kryvyi Rih OJSC and Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) Yenakiieve Steel) based on adverse facts available. Duferco S.A. was preliminarily found to have no sales of subject merchandise during the period of investigation and Commerce preliminarily determined not to further examine Duferco as a part of this investigation. All other producers/exports in Ukraine have been assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 34.98 percent.

In the United Kingdom investigation, Commerce found that exporters dumped wire rod in the United States at margins of 41.96 percent (British Steel Limited and all-others) and 147.63 percent for Longs Steel UK Limited based on adverse facts available because Longs Steel failed to respond to the Department’s antidumping duty questionnaire. All other producers/exporters in the UK have been assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 41.96 percent.

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers of wire rod from Italy, Korea, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom based on these preliminary rates.

In 2016, imports of wire rod from Italy, Korea, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom were valued at an estimated $12.2 million, $45.6 million, $7.1 million, $40.7 million, $41.4 million, $55 million, and $20.5 million, respectively.

Enforcement of U.S. trade law is a prime focus of the Trump administration. From January 20, 2017, through October 25, 2017, Commerce has initiated 73 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations - a 52 percent increase from the previous year. For the same time period in 2016, Commerce initiated 48 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

The petitions were filed on behalf of Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. (FL), Nucor Corporation (NC), Keystone Consolidated Industries (TX), and Charter Steel (WI).

Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decision.

NEXT STEPS

The Department of Commerce is currently scheduled to announce its final AD determinations on January 9, 2018

The U.S. International Trade Commissions (ITC) is conducting parallel investigations to determine if the American producers have been harmed by the carbon and alloy steel wire rod imports from Italy, Korea, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and/or the United Kingdom. If the Commerce Department’s final determinations are affirmative, and the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, the Commerce Department will issue antidumping orders. If the ITC does not find that U.S. producers have been harmed, then the investigations will end, and no duties will be collected.

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The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade laws and does so through an impartial, transparent process grounded in U.S. law that reflects international rules and is based solely on factual evidence

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties.

Commerce currently maintains 411 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.