In a press release Monday, the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) expressed its concern over the substantial increase in imports of grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) in 2012. "Official US government statistics through July 2012, plus preliminary import data for August and September, show imports from four key exporters--Japan, Korea, Poland and Russia--up 32 percent over the same period last year," said counsel David A. Hartquist, international trade lawyer and a partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.
"The average unit values shown in the statistics are quite low, indicating possible dumping and below-cost sales in the United States. Domestic producers are assessing the situation to determine whether US trade laws are being violated," Hartquist added.