Weirton Steel's appeal on tin mill imports from Japan accepted

Weirton Steel’s appeal on tin mill imports from Japan accepted

The second largest US tin mill product (TMP) producer Weirton Steel Corp. reported that their and the International Trade Commission's (ITC) appeal against the revocation of the 95% duty on imports of TMP from Japan has been accepted. Back in August 2000, ITC decided to implement a 95% duty to imports of the subject material from Japan upon the request of the petitioners namely, Wierton Steel, the Independent Steelworkers Union and the USWA (United Steelworkers of America). According to ITC and Department of Commerce (DOC), TMP from Japan were sold at less than fair value in the US, causing material injury to the domestic industry. However, ITC's decision was revoked by the US Court of International Trade following the four Japanese TMP producers' appeal shortly after the duty was imposed. On October 3, based on their appeal, the US Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Weirton Steel and ITC against four Japanese producer/exporter of TMP and remanded the case back to ITC, which is expected to redound to Weirton Steel's advantage. In case ITC rules again in favor of Weirton Steel, duty will be valid at least until August 2005. Meanwhile, import duty was in effect during all these legal proceedings. The four Japanese companies are reported to be; Nippon Steel Corp., NKK Corp., Kawasaki Steel Corp and Toyo Kohan Co.