The US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of carbon and alloy steel wire rod, finding that exporters of subject merchandise from Italy and Turkey received countervailable subsidies.
In the Italy CVD investigation, the DOC calculated preliminary subsidy rates of 1.70 percent for Ferriere Nord S.p.A. and 44.18 percent for Ferriera Valsider S.p.A. The rate calculated for Ferriera Valsider S.p.A was based on adverse facts available due to its failure to fully cooperate in the investigation. The DOC determined a rate of 1.70 percent for all other Italian producers and exporters.
In the Turkey CVD investigation, the DOC calculated preliminary subsidy rates of 2.27 percent for Habas Sinai Ve Tibbi Gazlar Istih and de minimis for Icdas Celik Eberji Tersane Ve Ulasim San. The DOC determined a rate of 2.27 percent for all other Turkish producers and exports.
The DOC also determined that critical circumstances exist in the Turkey investigation for certain exporters, allowing for collection of duties for a retroactive period of 90 days. Cash deposits from importers of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy and Turkey will be collected based on these preliminary rates. In 2016, imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy and Turkey were valued at an estimated $12.2 million and $41.4 million, respectively. The petitioners are Gerdau Ameristeel US, Inc., Nucor, Keystone Consolidated Industries, and Charter Steel.
Unless the final determinations are aligned with the concurrent antidumping duty investigations, the DOC is currently scheduled to announce its final CVD determinations on November 9.