China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has issued its final AD and CVD decisions on oriented silicon steel (oriented electrical steel) from the US, in a move welcomed by the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals Importers and Exporters (CCCMC).
The case was initiated by Chinese steelmakers Baosteel and Wuhan Iron and Steel Group (WISCO). Following their application, China's MOC started its investigation and published its preliminary decision on December 10, 2009, with provisional measures being implemented as of the following day. With the provisional measures due to expire on April 10, 2010, the MOC issued its final decision to impose formal antidumping duties and countervailing duties on oriented silicon steel (oriented electrical steel) imported from the US effective from April 11, 2010.
The dumping margins for the two respondent companies in question are 7.8 percent and 19.9 percent; with the dumping margin of other non-respondent companies at 64.8 percent. The ad valorem subsidization rates for the two respondent companies are 11.7 percent and 12.0 percent respectively. The ad valorem subsidization rate for the other non-respondent companies is 44.6 percent. The MOC also decided that oriented silicon steel imported from Russia constituted dumping, and set a dumping margin for two respondent Russian companies at 6.3 percent, while the dumping margin for companies not responding has been set at 25 percent.
The CCCMC said the investigation confirms the dumping situation of oriented silicon steel imported from US and Russia, and confirms that the US steel industry receives government subsidies. As the unfair competition harmed the Chinese steel industry, the CCCMC said it supports the MOC's decision.