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U.S. Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Cut-to-Length Plate
05/07/2017 - U.S. steel producers indeed have been harmed by imported cut-to-length plate from eight countries, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has affirmed.
The unanimous decision, announced on Friday, clears the way for the imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on carbon and alloy plate from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
In March, the U.S. Commerce Department set final anti-dumping duties ranging from 3.6% to 148% on producers in the eight countries. In addition, it set a countervailing duty of 4.3% on South Korean producers.
The case arose on an April 2016 complaint from Nucor Corp., ArcelorMittal USA and SSAB Enterprises. The law firm Wiley Rein, which represents Nucor and has argued trade cases on behalf of American steelmakers, called the decision a “key victory.”
“This decision confirms that the U.S. steel industry has been injured by unfairly traded cut-to-length plate imports from these countries,” said Alan H. Price, partner and chairman of Wiley Rein’s international trade practice. “With today’s determination, the ITC is sending a message that all countries must abide by the rules of international trade or be held accountable.”
But the decision isn’t sitting well with the countries named in the complaint.
Last week, Japan, South Korea and China agreed to work together to resist what they say are protectionist U.S. trade policies. And in March, Germany called on the European Union to consider filing a complaint over the Commerce Department's decision with the World Trade Organization.
"We Europeans cannot accept this. The EU must now examine whether it also files a complaint at the WTO. I strongly support this," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said, according to the Reuters news service.
In March, the U.S. Commerce Department set final anti-dumping duties ranging from 3.6% to 148% on producers in the eight countries. In addition, it set a countervailing duty of 4.3% on South Korean producers.
The case arose on an April 2016 complaint from Nucor Corp., ArcelorMittal USA and SSAB Enterprises. The law firm Wiley Rein, which represents Nucor and has argued trade cases on behalf of American steelmakers, called the decision a “key victory.”
“This decision confirms that the U.S. steel industry has been injured by unfairly traded cut-to-length plate imports from these countries,” said Alan H. Price, partner and chairman of Wiley Rein’s international trade practice. “With today’s determination, the ITC is sending a message that all countries must abide by the rules of international trade or be held accountable.”
But the decision isn’t sitting well with the countries named in the complaint.
Last week, Japan, South Korea and China agreed to work together to resist what they say are protectionist U.S. trade policies. And in March, Germany called on the European Union to consider filing a complaint over the Commerce Department's decision with the World Trade Organization.
"We Europeans cannot accept this. The EU must now examine whether it also files a complaint at the WTO. I strongly support this," German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said, according to the Reuters news service.
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