Japanese steel industry criticizes ITC decision

Japanese steel industry criticizes ITC decision

Japanese steel producers are disappointed with the US International Trade Commission decision to extend antidumping and countervailing duties on hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products imported from Japan, the Japan Steel Information Center said today. The duties, imposed in 2000, were to be effective for five years. However, the ITC decided that revocation of the duties would likely lead to continuation or resumption of material injury to the US market. Japanese officials do not agree with the ITC decision. They claim that Japanese exports to the US market have fallen sharply following the notice of the review's preliminary results. The officials indicate that Japanese exporters have not been keen on re-entering the US market since that time.