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U.S. Signs Suspension Agreement on CTL Steel Plate from Ukraine

09/30/2008 - The U.S. Department of Commerce signs a new, market-economy-based suspension agreement with representatives of three Ukrainian cut-to-length steel plate producers.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has signed a new, market-economy-based suspension agreement with representatives of three Ukrainian cut-to-length steel plate (CTL plate) producers. Together, the three producers account for a substantial majority of the Ukraine’s exports to the United States.
 
The new agreement, which becomes effective Nov. 1, 2008, has been timed to coincide with the expiration of export limits under the existing non-market economy agreement. The non-market economy suspension agreement, which Commerce had entered into with the Government of Ukraine in 1997, had suspended an antidumping duty investigation on CTL plate.
 
Commerce later (February 2006,) revoked Ukraine’s status as a non-market economy country under section 771(18)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. Based on a request by certain Ukrainian CTL plate producers, Commerce agreed to work with those producers to convert the non-market economy suspension agreement to a market economy agreement.
 
“This agreement continues to provide for stability and fairness in steel trade with Ukraine while recognizing Ukraine’s impressive transition to a full-fledged market economy,” said Assistant Secretary for Import Administration David Spooner. “We appreciate the U.S. and Ukrainian industries’ constructive participation in reaching this new agreement.”
 
Commerce is to continue working with the Ukrainian CTL plate producers to ensure a smooth transition under the new agreement and to actively monitor its compliance.