Steel Wire Rod: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Belarus (A-822-806), Italy (A-475-836), South Korea (A-580-891), Russia (A-821-824), South Africa (A-791-823), Spain (A-469-816), Turkey (A-489-831), Ukraine (A-823-816), the United Arab Emirates (A-520-808) and the United Kingdom (A-412-826), and its recently initiated countervailing duty investigations on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy (C-475-837) and Turkey (C-489-832).
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The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized steel wire rod are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due May 12, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, currently due in June for CV duties and August for AD duties, it will set AD and/or CV duty cash deposit requirements for imports of merchandise subject to the investigation. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will issue an AD and/or CV duty order making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CV duties on importers and potentially change AD/CV duty cash deposit rates.
Belarus is considered a non-market economy, so for antidumping duty purposes it is treated like China or Vietnam. If duties are imposed, Belarusian producers and exporters who do not demonstrate independence from government control and request eligibility for a "separate rate" will be assigned the "Belarus-wide rate." Separate rate applications from Belarusian producers and exporters (here) are due on or about May 26.
AD/CVD Respondent Selection
Commerce said it will pick respondents for all of its AD/CV investigations, except the AD duty investigation on Belarus, based on CBP import data. For its AD duty investigation on Belarus, Commerce will examine the sole respondent identified in the petition requesting AD duties, though other Belarusian companies that wish to be examined may submit a quantity and value questionnaire (here) by May 1. Commerce intends to complete selection of respondents by May 16, it said.
Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations
The merchandise covered by these investigations are certain hot-rolled products of carbon steel and alloy steel, in coils, of approximately round cross section, less than 19.00 mm in actual solid cross-sectional diameter. Specifically excluded are steel products possessing the above-noted physical characteristics and meeting the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) definitions for (a) stainless steel; (b) tool steel; (c) high-nickel steel; (d) ball bearing steel; or (e) concrete reinforcing bars and rods. Also excluded are free cutting steel (also known as free machining steel) products (i.e., products that contain by weight one or more of the following elements: 0.1 percent or more of lead, 0.05 percent or more of bismuth, 0.08 percent or more of sulfur, more than 0.04 percent of phosphorous, more than 0.05 percent of selenium, or more than 0.01 percent of tellurium). All products meeting the physical description of subject merchandise that are not specifically excluded are included in this scope.
The products under investigation are currently classifiable under subheadings 7213.91.3011, 7213.91.3015, 7213.91.3020, 7213.91.3093; 7213.91.4500, 7213.91.6000, 7213.99.0030, 7227.20.0030, 7227.20.0080, 7227.90.6010, 7227.90.6020, 7227.90.6030, and 7227.90.6035 of the HTSUS. Products entered under subheadings 7213.99.0090 and 7227.90.6090 of the HTSUS also may be included in this scope if they meet the physical description of subject merchandise above. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.
Comments on Scope Due May 8
Participants in the AD/CVD investigations may submit comments on product coverage under the scope of the investigations. Comments on the scope are due by May 8.
Investigations Timetable
| Event | AD Duty | CV Duty |
|---|---|---|
| Petitions filed | 03/28/17 | 03/28/17 |
| DOC initiation date | 04/17/17 | 04/17/17 |
| ITC prelim determinations* | 05/12/17 | 05/12/17 |
| DOC prelim determinations† | 09/05/17 | 06/21/17 |
| DOC final determinations† | 11/20/17 | 09/05/17 |
| ITC final determinations‡ | 01/02/18 | 10/19/17 |
| Issuance of orders+ | 01/09/18 | 10/26/17 |
*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.
†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.
‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.
+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.
(See 1703300012 for a summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.)
The AD duty initiation notice is (here).
The CV duty initiation notice is (here).
The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).