Commerce alleges dumping of Japanese chromium

Commerce alleges dumping of Japanese chromium    The U.S. Commerce Department determined in an initial decision that Japan has dumped superalloy degassed chromium on the American market.
   The metal is mostly used in the manufacture of components for jet engines and gas turbines.
   Dumping is the import of goods at a price below the domestic market or a third-country price, or below the cost of production.
   In an Aug. 12 preliminary affirmative determination, the Commerce Department calculated the dumping margin at 129.32 percent. A dumping margin represents by how much the fair-value price, as calculated by the Commerce Department, exceeds the dumped price.
   Imposition of antidumping duties requires final affirmative determinations from both the Commerce Department that dumping occurred, and from the U.S. International Trade Commission that the imports injured U.S. industry. The Commerce Department is expected to make its final ruling in October.
   Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have been instructed to collect a cash deposit or bond on any related imports equal to the preliminary dumping margins. The money will be returned if a negative determination is made, the Commerce Department said.
   The U.S. import value of superalloy degassed chromium from Japan was $1.86 million in 2004, up 93 percent from $970,000 in 2003, the department reported.