U.S. Trade Commission Upholds Duties on Corrosion-Resistant Steel
06/27/2016 - The U.S. International Trade Commission has affirmed that domestic producers are being harmed by imports of corrosion-resistant steel from five countries, including China.
The unanimous decision supports findings from the Department of Commerce and finalizes anti-dumping duties of more than 200 percent on Chinese imports. Producers in India, Italy, Korea, and Taiwan also will be subjected to anti-dumping and countervailing duties.
The case arose in 2015 on a complaint from six American producers -- United States Steel Corp., Nucor Corp., Steel Dynamics Inc., California Steel Industries, ArcelorMittal USA and AK Steel Corp.
"United States Steel Corp. is pleased with the International Trade Commission's affirmative decision regarding corrosion-resistant steel imports,” Mario Longhi, the company’s chief executive, said in a statement. “The domestic steel industry has suffered dramatically due to the increase in unfairly traded imports, but today's decision is an encouraging step toward a level playing field," he said.
Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association, concurred.
“When combined with the cold-rolled decision issued (last week), it is increasingly apparent that the recent improvements to our nation’s trade laws have enhanced our ability to combat unfair trade practices,” he said.
“With over 14,800 layoffs announced throughout our industry, proper enforcement of our trade laws is critical. I am optimistic that these decisions will help provide some relief to domestic producers of corrosion-resistant and cold-rolled steel products.”
China, however, issued a new round of criticism against the U.S. industry, calling the decision protectionist, according to Xinhua, the country’s official news agency. An official from China’s commerce ministry told the news service that as of April 2016, there already were 161 duty orders in place on imported steel products.
The case arose in 2015 on a complaint from six American producers -- United States Steel Corp., Nucor Corp., Steel Dynamics Inc., California Steel Industries, ArcelorMittal USA and AK Steel Corp.
"United States Steel Corp. is pleased with the International Trade Commission's affirmative decision regarding corrosion-resistant steel imports,” Mario Longhi, the company’s chief executive, said in a statement. “The domestic steel industry has suffered dramatically due to the increase in unfairly traded imports, but today's decision is an encouraging step toward a level playing field," he said.
Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association, concurred.
“When combined with the cold-rolled decision issued (last week), it is increasingly apparent that the recent improvements to our nation’s trade laws have enhanced our ability to combat unfair trade practices,” he said.
“With over 14,800 layoffs announced throughout our industry, proper enforcement of our trade laws is critical. I am optimistic that these decisions will help provide some relief to domestic producers of corrosion-resistant and cold-rolled steel products.”
China, however, issued a new round of criticism against the U.S. industry, calling the decision protectionist, according to Xinhua, the country’s official news agency. An official from China’s commerce ministry told the news service that as of April 2016, there already were 161 duty orders in place on imported steel products.
