Update: US AD, CVD petitions against standard steel fasteners from China and Taiwan

More details of the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigation petitions filed Wednesday against standard steel fasteners from China and Taiwan, including the scope and alleged dumping margins, have been released.

Petitioner: Nucor Fastener Division

Other US Producers: Dyson Corporation; Lake Erie Products Special Fasteners; MNP Corporation; Unytite Inc.; St. Louis Screw & Bolt; and Telefast Industries Inc (these companies are not petitioners but may nevertheless support the petitions).

Scope: The petitioner defines the scope of the requested investigations as follows: The merchandise covered by the investigation consists of certain standard nuts, bolts and cap screws of steel other than stainless steel, whether or not coated. Bolts and cap screws covered by the investigation possess either a round-shaped or hexagonal-shaped head and having a shank or thread with a full or nominal diameter of six millimeters or more.

Merchandise covered by this investigation is classified in the Harmonized Tariff sSchedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings: 7318.15.2030, 7318.15.2055, 7318.15.2065, 7318.15.8085 and 7318.16.0085.

Alleged dumping margins: The petition alleges dumping margins for China ranging from 68.70 to 208.70 percent with a weighted average dumping margin of 145.04 percent. The petition alleges an average dumping margin for Taiwan of 73.88 percent.

CVD allegations: The peition lists a number of alleged subsidy programs for China but does not quantify a CVD margin.

“Critical Circumstances”: The petition does not contain an allegation of critical circumstances, though the deadline for the petitioner to make a claim of critical circumstances is 21 days prior to the US Department of Commerce's final determination.

Chinese producers: The petition lists over 875 Chinese companies that are allegedly making and/or exporting standard steel fasteners.

US importers: The petition lists more than 600 companies that are allegedly importing these items into the United States.