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The U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) has imposed new duties of up to 63% on some Chinese aluminum wire and cable imports because of what was described as “price-dumping.”

Per a cited DoC statement, “(DoC) announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of aluminum wire and cable from China, finding that exporters from China have dumped aluminum wire and cable in the United States at a margin of 58.51 to 63.47 percent."

Encore Wire Chairman, President and CEO Daniel Jones welcomed the decision, noting that, "These illegal trade practices have undermined our investments in aluminum wire production, which is an important complement to our market-leading copper wire business." 

A fact sheet accompanying the notice reported that U.S. imports of aluminum wire and cable from China were valued at more than $157 million in 2017. U.S. customs and border agents will begin collecting cash deposits from importers of these products at the same rates to offset unfair Chinese subsidies, the Commerce Department said.

The Trump administration, reports said, has initiated 168 investigations of unfair trade practices since taking office, more than double the number during a comparable period of the previous administration, according to the release.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy and Turkey and AD investigations of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Korea, Spain, and the U.K.

The Commerce Department determined that exporters from Italy, Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the U.K. are dumping carbon and alloy steel wire rod in the U.S. at 12.41-18.89%, 41.10%, 11.08-32.64%, 4.74-7.94%, and 147.63% less than fair value, respectively. Commerce also determined that Italy and Turkey are providing countervailable subsidies to its producers of carbon and alloy steel wire rod at rates ranging from 4.16-44.18% and 3.81-3.86%, respectively.

In 2016, imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy, Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom were valued at an estimated $12.2 million, $45.6 million, $40.7 million, $41.4 million, and $20.5 million, respectively.
Commerce also cited rates for individual companies in its findings, as follows.

In Italy, Ferriere Nord was assigned a dumping margin of 12.41% and a subsidy rate of 4.16% and Ferriera Valsider a dumping margin of 18.89% and a subsidy rate of 44.18%. All others were assigned a dumping margin of 12.41 percent and a subsidy rate of 4.16%.
South Korea’s POSCO  was assigned a dumping margin of 41.10%.

In Spain, Global Steel Wire, CELSA Atlantic and Compania Espanola de Laminacion were assigned dumping margins of 11.08%; ArcelorMittal Espana, a unit of ArcelorMittal, a margin of 32.64%; and all others, 11.08%.

In Turkey, Habas Sinai ve Tibbi Gazlar Istihsal Endustrisi received a dumping margin of 4.74%, Icdas Celik Enerji Tersane ve Ulasim Sanayi a margin of 7.94%, and all others, margins of 6.34%. Habas Sinai Ve Tibbi Gazlar Istih got a subsidy rate of 3.86%, Icdas Celik Eberji Tersane Ve Ulasim San a rate of 3.81%, and all others, a rate of 3.84%.

British Steel Ltd and Longs Steel UK Ltd were given dumping margins of 147.63%, as were all other U.K. exporters.

The petitioners in the case were Gerdau Ameristeel US, Inc., Nucor Corporation, Keystone Consolidated Industries and Charter Steel.

If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final injury determinations by or about the scheduled date of May 3, Commerce will issue AD and CVD orders. If the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.

From January 20, 2017, through March 20, 2018, the Commerce Department has initiated 102 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 96% increase from the prior year.

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