US DOC initiates AD/CVD investigation into plate from 12 countries

On April 29, the US Department of Commerce announced the initiation of the antidumping duty investigations of imports of certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey, and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of CTL plate from Brazil, China, and Korea. 

The petitioners are ArcelorMittal USA LLC, Nucor Corporation and SSAB Enterprises, LLC. The products covered by these investigations are certain carbon and alloy steel hot-rolled or forged flat plate products not in coils, whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances (cut-to-length plate). 

In 2015, imports of CTL plate from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey were valued at an estimated $14.2 million, $19.8 million, $26.7 million, $70.3 million, $179 million, $196.2 million, $37 million, $54.9 million, $210 million, $9.9 million, $21 million, and $12.2 million, respectively. 

Alleged Dumping Margins:

Austria: 35.50 to 121.90 percent
Belgium: 51.78 percent
Brazil: 74.52 percent
China: 67.93 – 68.27 percent
France: 28.43 – 148.02 percent
Germany: 42.59 – 174.03 percent
Italy: 130.63 percent
Japan: 179.2 percent
Korea: 44.70 – 248.64 percent
South Africa: 81.29 – 94.14 percent
Taiwan: 8.30 – 77.13 percent
Turkey: 34.03 – 50.00 percent 

Alleged Subsidy Rate:
Brazil: Above de minimis 
China: Above de minimis 
Korea: Above de minimis

The US International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before May 23, 2016.