US industry injured by PC strand imports, ITC says in final determination

Manufacturers in the United States have been materially injured by imports of pre-stressed concrete (PC) steel wire strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined.

The imported products have been sold in the US at less than fair value, the ITC said in a final determination issued on Friday January 8, also noting subsidization by the government of Turkey.

As a result, the US Commerce Department will issue anti-dumping duty orders on imports of PC strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey and the UAE; and countervailing duty orders on imports of the product from Turkey.

The ITC also made negative findings concerning critical circumstances on PC strand from Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands and Turkey sold in the US, and thus these imports will not be subject to retroactive anti-dumping duties.

Dumping margins had been set on December 8 at the following rates:

  • Argentina, 60.4%
  • Colombia, 86.09%
  • Egypt, 29.72%
  • The Netherlands, 30.86%
  • Saudi Arabia, 194.4%
  • Taiwan, 23.89%
  • Turkey, 53.65%
  • UAE, 170.65%

Commerce also announced on December 8 that Turkish exporters received countervailable subsidies at rates ranging from 30.78-158.44%.

In 2019, the value of PC strand imported from these sources was estimated at:

  • Argentina, $2.3 million
  • Colombia, $9.57 million
  • Egypt, $345,888
  • The Netherlands, $1.62 million
  • Saudi Arabia, $1.38 million
  • Taiwan, $2.98 million
  • Turkey, $13.08 million
  • UAE, $2.27 million

Commerce initiated the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of PC strand in May of last year, following petitions by Insteel Wire Products Co, Sumiden Wire Products Corp and Wire Mesh Corp.

Commerce is conducting concurrent anti-dumping investigations of PC strand from Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia and Ukraine. The final determinations for these investigations are scheduled to be announced on April 6, 2021.

What to read next
Steel prices in the US would be weaker if not artificially propped up by trade tariff pressures as underlying demand is depressed, several market participants told Fastmarkets on Friday August 8.
What factors are driving the significant downturn in US housing starts, accompanied by a decrease in building permits?
Explore the latest trends in OCC prices and understand how market factors impact pricing stability this August.
This reflects changing market dynamics with a preference from market participants for more visibility on a price for Laos-origin material while noting liquidity decline on an FOB Southern Turkey basis. The proposed price specifications will be as follows: Barite, drilling grade, unground lump, API, bulk, SG 4.10 fob Vietnam, $ per tonneQuality: API grade, SG 4.10 […]
This price is a part of the Fastmarkets scrap package. For more information on our North America Ferrous Scrap methodology and specifications please click here. To get in touch about access to this price assessment, please contact customer.success@fastmarkets.com.
Electra Battery Materials Corp announced on Thursday July 31 that it is starting metallurgical testing on cobalt feedstocks at its historic Cobalt Camp in Ontario and at its Iron Creek, Idaho cobalt and copper project to expand North American supply of critical minerals contained in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).