The US International Trade Commission (USITC) Tuesday determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on clad steel plate from Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the ITCs affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of this product from Japan will remain in place. Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, and David S. Johanson voted in the affirmative. Commissioners Daniel R. Pearson and Meredith Broadbent voted in the negative.
Tuesday's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.
Immediately following the decision, the United Steelworkers union issued the following statement: "[Tuesday's] vote by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) to sustain the tariff order on clad steel plate imports from Japan saves our steelworkers' jobs at the ArcelorMittal mill in Coatesville, PA," declared Sheldon Gregg, President of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1165. According to the USW Local 1165 President, clad steel plate is a specialty product used in industrial chemical and petroleum refining vessels where corrosive resistance and strength are required.
He adds that the Coatesville mill is the only remaining USW-represented steel facility in the US that makes clad steel plate. "We shouldn't become dependent on foreign steel imports and risk losing family supportive jobs for a critical production component used in domestic refining," he added.