U.S. Plate Producers File Trade Complaint Against 12 Countries
04/08/2016 - American steel producers are seeking trade actions against imported carbon and alloy cut-to-length plate from 12 countries, alleging that overseas manufacturers have been undercutting domestic prices.
In a complaint filed 8 April, U.S. producers ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corp. and SSAB Enterprises contend that their overseas counterparts have been dumping at margins of between 6.53 percent and 244.19 percent.
The biggest culprits, they say, are in South Korea (42.59 percent to 244.19 percent); Germany (43.09 percent to 194.50 percent); and Austria (158.27 percent). The other nine countries named in the complaint are Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey.
The producers also contend that manufacturers in Brazil, China and South Korea are unfairly benefiting from a number of subsidy programs.
According to the American producers, the complaint covers more than 75 percent of the cut-to-length plate exported to the U.S. in 2015. They argue that imports more than doubled between 2013 and 2015, rising from 572,000 tons to 1.2 million tons in that time.
“Surging volumes of low-priced and unfairly-traded cut-to-length plate from numerous sources have injured U.S. producers and their workers,” they said in a joint statement.
“If remedial measures are not imposed, subject imports will continue flooding this market, causing severe injury to an already battered industry.”
The complaint is the latest of trade cases U.S. steel producers have initiated. They are also seeking protection from imported hot rolled coil, cold rolled coils, various pipe and tube products, and stainless sheet and strip.
The biggest culprits, they say, are in South Korea (42.59 percent to 244.19 percent); Germany (43.09 percent to 194.50 percent); and Austria (158.27 percent). The other nine countries named in the complaint are Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey.
The producers also contend that manufacturers in Brazil, China and South Korea are unfairly benefiting from a number of subsidy programs.
According to the American producers, the complaint covers more than 75 percent of the cut-to-length plate exported to the U.S. in 2015. They argue that imports more than doubled between 2013 and 2015, rising from 572,000 tons to 1.2 million tons in that time.
“Surging volumes of low-priced and unfairly-traded cut-to-length plate from numerous sources have injured U.S. producers and their workers,” they said in a joint statement.
“If remedial measures are not imposed, subject imports will continue flooding this market, causing severe injury to an already battered industry.”
The complaint is the latest of trade cases U.S. steel producers have initiated. They are also seeking protection from imported hot rolled coil, cold rolled coils, various pipe and tube products, and stainless sheet and strip.
