The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) has failed to find a reasonable indication of real or threatened injury to a U.S. industry in regards to carbon and alloy steel wire rod imported from China, Germany, and Turkey that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

The ITC's preliminary determination comes despite a near doubling of wire rod imports from the three countries, from approximately 958,000 tons in 2002 to over 1.8 million tons in 2004. The subject imports from these countries accounted for nearly half of all wire rod imports during the most recent 12-month period that data are available (September 2004 - August 2005.) The imports have similarly captured a large and increasing share of the U.S. market over the last three years.

Antidumping petitions against the three countries were filed on November 10, 2005 and the Commerce Department initiated the investigations on November 30, 2005, citing alleged antidumping duty margins of 321.76% for P.R. China, 40.25 to 81.88% for Germany, and 29.23 to 77.76% for Turkey. The investigations will now be terminated pending the results of any appeal.

The original case, and subsequent investigations, focused on hot-rolled carbon steel and alloy steel coils ranging from 4.75 to 19.00 mm in cross sectional diameter. Hot rolled stainless steel, tool steel, high nickel steel, ball bearing steel, and concrete reinforcing bars (as defined by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)) were excluded. Free machining steel products were also excluded.

Petitioners for the case included Connecticut Steel Corp., Wallingford, Conn.; Gerdau AmeriSteel U.S. Inc., Tampa, Fla.; Keystone Steel & Wire Co., Peoria, Ill.; Mittal Steel USA Georgetown, Georgetown, S.C.; and Rocky Mountain Steel Mills, Pueblo, Colo. Preliminary investigations for the case were instituted by the USITC on November 10, 2005.