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Commerce Investigates Galvanized Steel Wire from China, Mexico

The Department of Commerce recently initiated antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of galvanized steel wire from China and Mexico and a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of galvanized steel wire from China.

For the purpose of AD investigations, dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than normal value. For the purpose of CVD investigations, subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefits the production, manufacture, or exportation of goods.

   
The merchandise covered by these investigations is galvanized steel wire that is a cold-drawn carbon quality steel product in coils, of solid, circular cross section with an actual diameter of 0.5842 mm (0.0230 in) or more, plated or coated with zinc (whether by hot-dipping or electroplating).
 
Galvanized steel wire is used in a variety of applications, such as agriculture, automotive, construction, consumer, and industrial uses. It is also an intermediate product used to make a multitude of wire products.
 
Imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under the following categories of the HTSUS: 7217.20.30 and 7217.20.45. Galvanized wire is reported under statistical reporting numbers 7217.20.3000, 7217.20.4510, 7217.20.4520, 7217.20.4530, 7217.20.4540, 7217.20.4550, 7217.20.4560, 7217.20.4570, and 7217.20.4580. These products may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 7229.20.0015, 7229.90.5008, 7229.90.5016, 7229.90.5031, and 7229.90.5051.
 
In 2010, imports of galvanized steel wire from China and Mexico were valued at an estimated $53.9 million and $59.6 million, respectively. The galvanized steel wire subject to these investigations can be classified within HTSUS basket categories that contain products beyond the scope of the investigations.
 
Petitioners for these investigations are Davis Wire Corp. (Calif.), Johnstown Wire Technologies, Inc. (Pa.), Mid-South Wire Company, Inc. (Tenn.), National Standard, LLC (Mich.), and Oklahoma Steel & Wire Co., Inc. (Okla.).
 
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or about May 16, 2011. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China and Mexico are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic industry, the investigations will continue. Commerce then will be scheduled to make its CVD preliminary determination in June 2011 and its AD preliminary determinations in September 2011.