Scope and alleged dumping margins in AD, CVD petitions against Chinese PC strand

SteelOrbis has learned further details of the antidumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by a group of US wire companies this week against prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from China, including the scope and the alleged dumping margins of the investigations. Details of the petitions are as follows:

Scope: The scope of the petitions, filed Wednesday by American Spring Wire Corporation, Insteel Wire Products Company and Sumiden Wire Products Corporation, encompasses covered and uncovered carbon steel PC strand of all types, grades and diameters, classifiable under subheadings 7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). PC strand made from galvanized wire is only excluded from the scope if the zinc and/or zinc oxide coating meets or exceeds the 0.4 oz./sq.ft. standard set forth in the ASTM-A-475.

Alleged dumping margins: The petitioners allege an average dumping margin of 223.47 percent.

Countervailing duty allegations: Although the petition lists a number of alleged subsidy programs, it does not quantify a CVD margin.

Critical Circumstances: The petitions do not contain allegations of “critical circumstances,” although there could be an allegation made during the course of these investigations, as the petitioners have until 21 days prior to the US Department of Commerce (DOC)'s final determination to make this allegation.

Chinese producers/exporters and US importers: The petitioners identified 22 Chinese producers and/or/exporters of PC strand to be included in the petition, as well as 40 US importers of PC strand from China.

Tentative Schedule: Preliminary injury determination by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in the AD and CVD cases is scheduled for Monday, July 13. Preliminary dumping or subsidy determination will be made by the DOC (if the investigation follows a “normal” schedule) on August 20, 2009 in the CVD case and on November 3, 2009 in the AD case, with final subsidy determinations following on November 3, 2009 in the CVD case and January 18, 2010 in the AD case. Final injury determination will by made by the ITC (“normal” schedule) will be made on December 18, 2009 for the CVD case and on March 3, 2010 for the AD case.