The Department of Commerce released a memorandum addressing issues briefed during the recent section 129 proceedings, which addressed 12 antidumping cases, primarily related to steel imports. Proceedings addressed cases including hot-rolled carbon steel from the Netherlands; stainless steel bar from France, Germany, Italy, and the U.K.; stainless steel wire rod from Sweden, Spain, and Italy; stainless steel plate in coils from Belgium; stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Italy; and cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate products from Italy. Proceedings also addressed pasta imported from Italy.

One of the issues addressed by the section 129 proceedings was focused on the use of zeroing when calculating antidumping duties. Zeroing takes into account the difference between the price a producer charges for a given steel product in its own home market vs. the price it charges for that same steel product in the U.S.

As part of the proceedings, the Import Administration reviewed whether the Department of Commerce has the authority to implement the WTO Appellate Body’s decision. Targeted dumping, treatment of unliquidated entries, calculation of all-others rates, and other issues were also addressed.

As a result of the section 129 proceedings, duties for the following products will be revoked for the producers indicated:

• Hot rolled steel bar from the Netherlands for Corus
• Stainless steel bar from France for UGITECH
• Stainless steel bar from Germany for Einsal
• Stainless steel bar from Italy for Acciaiera Valbruna SpA, Acciaiera Foroni SpA, and Rodacciai SpA
• Stainless steel bar from the U.K. for Corus Engineering Steels
• Stainless steel wire rod from Sweden for Fagersta Stainless AB

Anti-dumping duties were lowered for a number of other producers. Complete details can be found in the 26-page decision that is available on the Import Administration’s website.

The following interested parties participated in the investigations:

• Carpenter Technology, Crucible Specialty Metal Division, Crucible Materials, Electralloy (a Division of G.O. Carlson), and Universal Stainless & Alloy Products in the investigation of stainless steel bar from Italy.
• Carpenter Technology, Crucible Specialty Metal Division, Crucible Materials, Electralloy (a Division of G.O. Carlson), Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, and Valbruna Slater Steels in the investigations of stainless steel bar from France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
• Carpenter Technology and Universal Stainless & Alloy Products in the investigations of stainless steel wire rod from Sweden, stainless steel wire rod from Italy, and stainless steel wire rod from Spain.
• Allegheny Ludlum and AK Steel in the investigations of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Italy and stainless steel plate in coils from Belgium.
• Nucor in the investigation of hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from the Netherlands and the investigation of cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from Italy.
• Ipsco Steel, Steel Dynamics, and Gallatin Steel in the investigations of cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from Italy, and hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from the Netherlands.
• United States Steel in the investigation of hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from the Netherlands.
• Mittal Steel USA in the investigations of hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from the Netherlands and cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from Italy.
• UGITECH SA (Italy) and UGITECH SA in the investigations of stainless steel bar from Italy and stainless steel bar from France, respectively.
• ThyssenKrupp Acciai Speciali Terni SpA and ThyssenKrupp AST USA in the investigation of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Italy.
• Fagersta Stainless AB in the investigation of stainless steel wire rod from Sweden.
• Acciaierie Valbruna SpA in the investigation of stainless steel bar from Italy.
• Corus Staal BV in the investigation of hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from the Netherlands.
• The Government of the United Kingdom in the investigation of stainless steel bar from the U.K.
• The European Commission in all investigations.
• The Government of France in the investigation of stainless steel bar from France.
• BGH Edelstahl Freital GmbH, BGH Edelstahl Lippendorf GmbH, BGH Edelstahl Lugau GmbH and BGH Edelstahl Siegen Gmbh (BGH) in the investigation of stainless steel bar from Germany.
• Foroni SpA and Foroni Metals of Texas in the investigation of stainless steel bar from Italy.
• Walzwerke Einsal Gmbh in the investigation of stainless steel bar from Germany.
• Rodacciai SpA in the investigation of stainless steel bar from Italy.
• Nucor had requested a hearing in the investigation of carbon steel flat products from the Netherlands, but later withdrew its request (March 30, 2007).
• TKAST requested a hearing in the investigation of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils from Italy; a hearing was held in this section 129 proceeding on April 6, 2007.