The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced the commencement of a preliminary phase countervailing duty investigation and of an antidumping duty investigation against certain steel gratings from China, in response to a petition filed on May 29, 2009, by Alabama Metal Industries, Birmingham, Alabama, and by Fisher & Ludlow, Wexford, Pennsylvania.
Accordingly, the ITC will determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the US is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the US is materially retarded, by reason of imports from China of certain steel gratings, provided for in subheading 7308.90.70 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the US, that are alleged to be subsidized by China and sold in the US at less than fair value.
Unless the US Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation of the investigations in question, the ITC must issue preliminary determinations in these investigations in 45 days, or in this case by July 13, 2009.