The US Department of Commerce (DOC) this week published its recalculated antidumping margins for stainless steel sheet and strip from Italy.
The rate was adjusted significantly to 2.11 percent for the two ThyssenKrupp mills in Italy and for the "All Others" category.
Previously, ThyssenKrupp had been hit with a 3.73 percent margin and "All Others" with an 11.23 percent margin. The adjustment could make shipments to the US of Italian stainless steel sheet and strip almost feasible again.
Under pressure from the World Trade Organization (WTO), the DOC had to change its methodology by eliminating "zeroing" (shipments above the established dumping price level were not considered by the DOC instead of reducing the overall dumping margin).
After a protracted battle, the US lost its case and the DOC has to change its methodology. However, the DOC will only recalculate cases that have been taken to the WTO court, and it is not clear yet if the DOC will apply the new methodology for administrative reviews.
Needless to say, DOC officials are not pleased and have now petitioned the WTO to make "zeroing" part of the antidumping laws.