Commerce investigates cold-rolled steel imports

The Commerce Department has initiated both antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of certain cold-rolled steel flat products from Brazil, China, India, Korea and Russia.    The Commerce Department has initiated both antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of certain cold-rolled steel flat products from Brazil, China, India, Korea and Russia.
   It has also started an antidumping investigation of similar imports from Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
   Dumping occurs when imported products are sold in the United States at less than fair market value, while countervailable subsidies are financial assistance given to domestic industries by governments to promote exports over imports.
   The petitioners for the Commerce investigation are AK Steel Corp. of Ohio, ArcelorMittal USA in Illinois; Nucor Corp. of North Carolina; Sttel Dynamics in Indiana, and U.S. Steel Corp. of Pennsylvania.
   It’s estimated that in 2014 the total U.S. import value of certain cold-rolled flat products from the countries under Commerce’s investigation was $1.236 billion, with Brazil at $65 million, China ($514 million), India ($57 million), Korea ($206 million), Russia ($54 million), Japan ($143 million), the Netherlands ($65 million), and the United Kingdom ($132 million).
   The International Trade Commission is expected to make its preliminary injury determination in this investigation by Sept. 11. If the ITC finds no injury to domestic cold-rolled steel producers from dumping and countervailable subsidies, the Commerce investigation will be suspended.