U.S. Commerce Department To Investigate Cold-Rolled Steel Dumping

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Commission (ITC) last week formally launched an investigation of imports of certain cold-rolled steel flat products from Brazil, China, India, Korea, Russia, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. According to the ITC, “The products covered by these investigations are certain cold-rolled (cold-reduced), flat-rolled steel products, whether or not annealed, painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances. The products covered do not include those that are clad, plated, or coated with metal.” 

The investigation was requested by AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal USA LLC, Nucor Corporation, Steel Dynamics, Inc. and United States Steel Corporation. The ITC will make its preliminary determination in the case by Sept. 11, 2015. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from these countries “materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry” it will continue its investigation and make a preliminary decisions about countervailing duties in October 2015 and preliminary antidumping determinations in January 2016. 

According to Politico’s “Morning Trade,” in the coming weeks the ITC is planning to announce another investigation, this one one into imports of hot-rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Kingdom.