Antidumping duty rates are as follows:

Italy

• Ferriere Nord S.p.A.                    : 12.41%
• Ferriera Valsider S.p.A.              : 18.89%
• All Others                                      : 12.41%

South Korea

• POSCO                                           : 41.10%
• All Others                                      : 41.10%

Spain

• Global Steel Wire S.A                          : 11.08%
• CELSA Atlantic S.A.                            : 11.08%
• Compania Espanola de Laminacion: 11.08%
• ArcelorMittal Espana S.A                   : 32.64%
• All Others                                               : 11.08%

Turkey

• Habas                                                 :   4.74%
• Icdas                                                   :   7.94%
• All Others                                          :   6.34%

UK

• British Steel Limited                       : 147.63%
• Longs Steel UK Limited                 : 147.63%
• All Others                                          : 147.63%

Countervailing duty rates are as follows:

Italy

• Ferriere Nord S.p.A.                        :   4.16%
• Ferriera Valsider S.p.A.                  : 44.18%
• All Others                                          :    4.16%

Turkey

• Habas                                                 :     3.86%
• Icdas                                                   :     3.81%
• All Others                                          :      3.84%

The petitioners for the investigations are Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., Nucor Corporation, Keystone Consolidated Industries and Charter Steel.

If the US International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final injury determinations, the DOC will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders. If the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued. The ITC is expected to announce its decision on May 3.

According to the amended decision, the US DOC recalculated a preliminary antidumping duty rate of 40.80 percent for South Korean steelmaker POSCO and all other exporters from South Korea, compared to the previous preliminary antidumping duty rate of 10.09 percent for POSCO and all other exporters from the country as announced in October this year.

The products in question currently fall under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 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.

Preliminary margins are set as follows:

• Belarus                                : 280.02 percent
• Russia                                  : 436.80-756.93 percent
• UAE                                      :   84.10 percent

Petitioners in the case were Gerdau Ameristeel, Nucor, Keystone Consolidated Industries, and Charter Steel of Wisconsin. The announcement of final antidumping duties is scheduled for November 21.

In the Italy CVD investigation, the US DOC calculated the following preliminary subsidy rates:

• Ferriere Nord S.p.A.                                              :  1.70 percent
• Ferriera Valsider S.p.A.                                        : 44.18 percent
• all other producers and exporters                      :  1.70 percent

The rate calculated for Ferriera Valsider S.p.A was based on adverse facts available due to its failure to fully cooperate in the investigation.

In the Turkey CVD investigation, the US DOC calculated the following preliminary subsidy rates:

• Habas                                                                       :  2.27 percent
• Icdas                                                                         : de minimis
• all other producers and exporters                      :  2.27 percent

The US DOC also determined that critical circumstances exist in the Turkey investigation for certain exporters, allowing for collection of duties for a retroactive period of 90 days.

Cash deposits from importers of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy and Turkey will be collected based on these preliminary rates.

Unless the final determinations are aligned with the concurrent antidumping duty investigations, the US DOC is currently scheduled to announce its final CVD determinations on November 9.

• Belarus : 161.75 – 280.02%
• Italy : 18.89%
• Korea : 33.96 – 43.25%
• Russia : 214.06 – 756.93%
• South Africa : 128.66 – 142.26%
• Spain : 32.70%
• Turkey : 37.67%
• Ukraine : 21.23 – 44.03%
• United Arab Emirates : 84.10%
• United Kingdom : 147.63%

Estimated subsidy rates for Italy and Turkey are above de minimis.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before May 12, 2017. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication of injury, the investigations will continue and the DOC will announce its preliminary CVD determinations in June 2017 and its preliminary AD determinations in September 2017, though these dates may be extended.  If the ITC’s determinations are negative, the investigations will be terminated.

The petitioners are Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., Nucor, Keystone Consolidated Industries, and Charter Steel.

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 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).  Products entered under subheadings 7213.99.0090 and 7227.90.6090 of the HTSUS also may be included in this scope if they meet the physical description of subject merchandise.

• Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc.,
• Nucor Corporation
• Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc.,
• Charter Steel

today filed petitions charging that unfairly-traded imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from

• Belarus,
• Italy,
• South Korea,
• Russia,
• South Africa,
• Spain,
• Turkey,
• Ukraine,
• United Arab Emirates,
• United Kingdom

are causing material injury to the domestic industry.

The petitions allege that producers in each of the 10 countries are dumping wire rod in the US market at the following alleged margins:

• Belarus                               : 179.07-304.94%
• Italy                                    : 26.36%
• South Korea                      : 41.72-53.09%
• Russia                                 : 216.50-821.40%
• South Africa                      : 159.35-164.08%
• Spain                                   : 32.64%
• Turkey                                 : 45.10%
• Ukraine                               : 21.64-61.64%
• United Arab Emirates      : 69.57%
• United Kingdom               : 88.25%

The petitions also allege that the governments of Italy and Turkey are providing countervailable subsidies to producers of wire rod, and identify numerous subsidy programs related to export loans, credit, and insurance at preferential rates, preferential tax treatment, and government grants, among other programs.

In a statement, the petitioners said the filing “is in response to large and increasing volumes of low-priced imports of wire rod from the subject countries since 2014 that have injured US producers. From 2014 to 2016, subject imports surged into the market at increasingly low prices, with subject import volume growing by over 56 percent and their average price, or unit value, falling dramatically by 32 percent.”

The petitions allege that subject imports were able to penetrate the US market by significantly undercutting US prices. As a result of increasing volumes of low-priced imports, US producers have suffered lost sales and significant declines in prices and profits, the statement said, adding that “foreign producers of wire rod also continue to threaten the domestic industry with additional injury due to their massive and growing production capacity and extensive unused capacity that will be used to export large volumes of unfairly low-priced and subsidized product to the United States. The price declines and financial deterioration that US producers have suffered are likely to continue if duties are not imposed to offset these unfair trading practices.”
The product covered by these petitions is 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 (carbon and alloy steel wire rod).

The US DOC will determine whether to initiate the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations within 20 days of today’s filing of the petitions and the US ITC will reach a preliminary determination of material injury or threat of material njury within 45 days of today’s filing. The entire investigative process will take approximately one year, with final eterminations of dumping, subsidization, and injury likely occurring in the spring of 2018.

The preliminary antidumping duty rates per country and company are as follows:

Japan

• Jonan Steel Corporation : 209.46%
• Kyoei Steel Ltd. : 209.46%
• All Others : 209.46%

Taiwan

• Power Steel Co. : 3.48%
• Lo-Toun Steel and Iron Works : 29.47%
• All Others : 5.49%

Turkey

• Habas : 5.29%
• Icdas : 7.07%
• All Others : 6.20%

The petitioners in the investigation are the Rebar Trade Action Coalition and its individual members: Byer Steel Group, Inc., Commercial Metals Company, Gerdau Long Steel North America, Nucor, and Steel Dynamics, Inc.

The DOC is scheduled to announce its final determinations on or about May 16, 2017, for Japan and Turkey, and July 6, 2017, for Taiwan. The ITC is scheduled to make its final injury determinations in June 2017 for Japan and Turkey, and in August 2017 for Taiwan.

The subject merchandise is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) primarily under item numbers 7213.10.0000, 7214.20.0000, and 7228.30.8010.  The subject merchandise may also enter under other HTSUS numbers including 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.5000, 7221.00.0017, 7221.00.0018, 7221.00.0030, 7221.00.0045, 7222.11.0001, 7222.11.0057, 7222.11.0059, 7222.30.0001, 7227.20.0080, 7227.90.6030, 7227.90.6035, 7227.90.6040, 7228.20.1000, and 7228.60.6000.

The DOC calculated a preliminary subsidy rate of 3.47 percent for the mandatory respondent Habas and “all others,” although there are currently no Turkish rebar producers or exporters subject to it because the ongoing investigation only covers companies that were excluded from the 2014 CVD order against Turkish rebar. At the time of that order, which established a 1.25 percent CVD duty, Habas was the only excluded producer. As a result of the preliminary affirmative determination, the DOC will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposits based on this preliminary rate.

The DOC is scheduled to announce its final CVD determination on or about May 16, 2017, unless the statutory deadline is extended.  The preliminary results in the AD investigation against rebar imports from Turkey, Taiwan and Japan are due February 27.

The petitioners in the case are the Rebar Trade Action Coalition and its individual members: Byer Steel Group, Inc., Commercial Metals Company, Gerdau Long Steel North America, Nucor, and Steel Dynamics, Inc.

The subject merchandise is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) primarily under item numbers 7213.10.0000, 7214.20.0000, and 7228.30.8010.  The subject merchandise may also enter under other HTSUS numbers including 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.5000, 7221.00.0017, 7221.00.0018, 7221.00.0030, 7221.00.0045, 7222.11.0001, 7222.11.0057, 7222.11.0059, 7222.30.0001, 7227.20.0080, 7227.90.6030, 7227.90.6035, 7227.90.6040, 7228.20.1000, and 7228.60.6000.

The petitions demonstrate that Japanese, Taiwanese, and Turkish rebar producers are dumping their product into the United States at margins ranging from 86.12 percent to 206.17 percent.

The RTAC said “As a result of increasing volumes of dumped and subsidized imports, the US rebar industry is suffering significant harm, including a decline in pricing and profits. Japanese, Taiwanese, and Turkish rebar imports increased 160 percent between 2013 and 2015, and have remained significant in 2016, causing US producers to lose substantial sales to the unfairly priced imports and forcing them to lower prices to prevent additional lost volume. US rebar producers are struggling to maintain operating levels in the face of these imports. These unfairly traded imports have also severely depressed the US industry’s capacity utilization rates.”

The petitioning companies are as follows:

• Bayou Steel Group
• Byer Steel Group, Inc.
• Commercial Metals Company
• Gerdau
• Nucor Corporation
• Steel Dynamics, Inc.

The DOC and ITC should initiate antidumping and countervailing investigations within three weeks of the filing date of the petitions. The ITC’s preliminary injury determination is expected in November 2016; the Department of Commerce should make its preliminary AD and CVD determinations within approximately six months. At that point, importers of Japanese, Taiwanese, and Turkish merchandise will be required to make cash deposits in the amount of the preliminary AD and CVD duties. A final determination is expected in 9 to 13 months.

Speaking on behalf of the producers and exporters of long steel products; IREPAS Chairman Murat Cebecioglu said the dumping margins alleged by the US coalition of rebar producers are ungrounded. Mr. Cebecioglu added  “Free trade is one of the few unambiguously good things and it is based on the idea of comparative advantage. Free trade has allowed more wealth creation than any other economic order. It has benefited America and Europe enormously throughout the history, and still does. 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. Today, as always, there is much support for tariffs labeled as protection. Many countries try to protect themselves from unfairly priced imports. One voice that is hardly ever raised is the consumer’s. Protection means exploiting the consumer unless it is justified that imports have an unfair competitive advantage. IREPAS always supports free and fair trade in steel.”

According to the filing, Deacero exported rebar to Chile at lower prices. CNDP used ex-works export prices from Monterrey as well as effective export prices as a base for comparison. Media reports this week added the two companies, CAP Acero and Gerdau, are claiming a 27.5 percent tariff over the imports of the Mexican product.

Chilean press said Turkish imports are also being sold to Chile at lower prices, but so far none of the companies have requested AD investigations over the Turkish origin steel exports to Chile.