IREPAS - International Rebar Producers and Exporters Association » free trade

India-EFTA FTA to come into effect on October 1

Irepas — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:44:46 +0000

The India-EFTA (European Free Trade Association) free trade agreement (FTA) will come into effect from October 1, 2025, India’s commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, said in a statement on Monday, July 21. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Minister Goyal said that the two sides had signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10 last year.
He said that all four countries have ratified the FTA and lodged their documents with the repository in Norway. He stated that the EFTA Bloc has committed an investment of $100 billion of which $50 billion will be invested within 10 years after the implementation of the agreement and another $50 billion in the following five years.

Mexico extends antidumping duty on Ukrainian wire rod imports for five more years

Irepas — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 23:06:21 +0000

Mexico’s economy secretariat, SE, extended existing anti-dumping (AD) duties over the imports of Ukrainian wire rod for five more years.

SE said imports of the product, which falls under HS codes 7213.91.03 and 7213.99.99, will continue to be subject to a 41 percent AD levy. The decision follows a request from domestic producers Ternium Mexico, Deacero and TA 2000, formerly known as Talleres y Aceros, in August 2020. The extended antidumping duties are effective from 11 December, 2021, onward.

IREPAS statement on US DOC’s Section 232 recommendations

Irepas — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 16:00:21 +0000

IREPAS is convinced that, if the United States imposes the import remedy options which have been recommended by the US Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross following the conclusion of the Section 232 investigation into steel imports, American steel users will have to face much higher steel prices compared to the other parts of the world, which will certainly devastate many steel-using industries in the US.

IREPAS affirms its belief that free and fair trade is one of the few unambiguously good principles and that it is based on the idea of comparative advantage. Most commodities are freely and fairly traded around the world and this allows resources to flow to their point of best use. Countries and companies that have embraced this message have thrived and prospered, whereas those that have tried to close themselves off from this trend have not. Competition increases efficiency, and serves customers and the public in general. IREPAS always has and will always continue to support free and fair trade in steel.

AD/CVD petitions against rebar imported to the US from Turkey and Mexico

Irepas — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 06:44:59 +0000

The Rebar Trade Action Coalition in the US has filed an antidumping (AD) petition against steel concrete reinforcing bar imports from Turkey and Mexico and a countervailing duty (CVD) petition against steel concrete reinforcing bar imports from Turkey. The individual members of the Rebar Trade Action Coalition are listed herebelow:

Byer Steel Corporation
Cascade Steel Rolling Mills Inc.
Commercial Metals Company
Gerdau Ameristeel Inc.
Nucor Corporation

The petitioner alleges that rebar imported from Mexico and Turkey is being or is likely to be sold at less than normal value within the maning of the relevant sections of the Tariff Act. Petitioner further alleges that Turkish producers and exporters of rebar into the United States have benefited from subsidies that are countervailable within the meaning of the same act, and also alleges that these unfairly-traded imports have materially injured the United States domestic industry producing rebar and threaten to cause further material injury if remedial action is not taken.

The AD petitions allege the following dumping margins:

Turkey – a range of 41.93% to 42.49%.
Mexico – 66.76%.

The countervailing duty (CVD) petition identifies a number of subsidies allegedly used by Turkish rebar producers, but it does not quantify an alleged CVD margin.

The scope of the petition is as follows: Steel concrete reinforcing bar imported in straight length or coil form, regardless of metallurgy, length, and diameter. Specifically excluded are plain rounds (i.e., non-deformed or smooth bars).

These products are usually classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers 7213.10.0000, 7214.20.0000, and 7228.30.8010.

Speaking on behalf of the producers and exporters of long steel products; IREPAS Chairman Ugur Dalbeler said it is highly likely that the US ITC will accept the petition and start an investigation. However he said, the dumping margins alleged by the US producers are ungrounded. Mr.Dalbeler added “Free trade is one of the few unambiguously good things and it is based on the idea of comparative advantage. Most commodities freely trade around the world and this allows resources to flow to their best use. Countries and companies that have embraced this message have thrived and prospered. Those that tried to close themselves off from this trend have not. Competition increases efficiency and serves customers and the public. IREPAS always supports free and fair trade in steel.”