Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping Duties and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Ten Countries Filed March 28, 2017 - Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP
I. Type of Action: Antidumping Duty (“AD”): Belarus, Italy, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the Republic of South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom; Countervailing Duty (“CVD”) : Belarus, Italy, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the Republic of South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom;
II. Product: The imported merchandise that Petitioners intend to cover in these investigations is described as follows:
The merchandise covered by these investigations are certain hot-rolled products of carbon steel and alloy steel, in coils, of approximately round cross section, less than 19.00 mm in actual solid cross-sectional diameter. Specifically excluded are steel products possessing the above-noted physical characteristics and meeting the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) definitions for (a) stainless steel; (b) tool steel; (c) high-nickel steel; (d) ball bearing steel; or (e) concrete reinforcing bars and rods. Also excluded are free cutting steel (also known as free machining steel) products (i.e., products that contain by weight one or more of the following elements: 0.1 percent or more of lead, 0.05 percent or more of bismuth, 0.08 percent or more of sulfur, more than 0.04 percent of phosphorous, more than 0.05 percent of selenium, or more than 0.01 percent of tellurium). All products meeting the physical description of subject merchandise that are not specifically excluded are included in this scope.
III. HTS classifications: The products under investigation are currently classifiable under subheadings 1213.91.3011, 1213.91.3015, 7213.91.3020, 7213.91.3093; 7213.91.4500, 7213.91.6000, 7213.99.0030, 1227.20.0030, 7227 .20.0080, 1221 .90.6010, 7227.90.6020, 1221.90.6030, and 7227.90.6035 of the HTSUS. Products entered under subheadings 7213.99.0090 and 1227.90.6090 of the HTSUS also may be included in this scope if they meet the physical description of subject merchandise above. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.
IV. Date of Filing: March 28, 2017
V. Petitioners: Gerdau Arneristeel US Inc., Nucor Corporation, Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc., and Charter Steel
VI. Foreign Producers/Exporters
Please contact our office for a list filed with the petition
VII. US Importers named.
Please contact our office for a list filed with the petition
VIII. Alleged Dumping Margins:
• Belrus: 179.07% - 304.94%;• Italy: 26.36%;
• The Republic of Korea: 41.72% - 53.09%;
• The Russian Federation: 216.50% - 821.40%;
• The Republic of South Africa:159.35% - 164.08%;
• Spain: 32.64%;
• Turkey: 45.10%;
• Ukraine:21.64% - 61.64%;
• United Arab Emirates: 69.57%;
• The United Kingdom: 88.25%;
No CVD Margins listed.
IX. Comments:
A. Projected date of ITC Preliminary Injury Conference: April 18, 2017.
B. The earliest theoretical date for retroactive suspension of liquidation for the CVD duty is April 17, 2017;
C. The earliest theoretical date for retroactive suspension of liquidation for the AD duty is June 6, 2017. Please contact our office for a complete projected schedule of the AD and CVD investigations.
D. Volume and Value of Imports:
Please contact our office for a summary of the data filed with the petition.
If you have questions regarding how this investigation may impact future imports of scope merchandise, or whether a particular product is within the scope of the investigation, please contact one of our attorneys.
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Sulfanilic Acid from China and India - US International Trade Commission
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on sulfanilic acid from China and India would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing countervailing duty order on imports of this product from India and the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China and India will remain in place.
Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Meredith M. Broadbent, and F. Scott Kieff voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.
The Commission’s public report Sulfanilic Acid from China and India, Inv. Nos. 701-TA-318 and 731-TA-538 and 561 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 4680, April 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
The report will be available by May 8, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
--------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Sulfanilic Acid from China and India were instituted on September 1, 2016.
On December 5, 2016, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. With respect to India, all six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews. With respect to China, all six Commissioners concluded that both the domestic and the respondent group responses were adequate, but that circumstances warranted an expedited review.
A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
OTEXA: Announcements - Office of Textile and Apparel03/28/2017 - Department of Commerce Notice of
Request for Information on the Impact of Federal Regulations on Domestic Manufacturing. Comments due by 5:00pm on March 31, 2017
ITA: Press Releases - International Trade Administration
Terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have announced their schedules for the Cesar Chavez’ Birthday holiday weekend of Friday, March 31, through Monday, April 3. The schedule is posted below, and a PDF of the schedule can be downloaded at http://www.pierpass.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CChavez_2017_2.pdf.
Please continue to monitor the websites of individual terminals for updates.
Cargo Container Trade Expected to Grow in 2017 - Port of Long Beach
Industry gathers in Long Beach for 'Pulse of the Ports' forecast
International trade is expected to grow for the U.S. in 2017, as domestic economic conditions improve and the world economy accelerates, an economic forecaster said Wednesday at the Port of Long Beach’s 13th annual "Pulse of the Ports Peak Season Forecast."
Containerized imports from Asia will increase by a healthy 6.9 percent in 2017, according to panelist Mario Moreno, Senior Economist with IHS Maritime & Trade, which is affiliated with the Journal of Commerce. He expects U.S. container exports to Asia to climb a modest 1.3 percent. He also predicted that the overall U.S. economy will rise by an estimated 2.3 percent.
More than 500 people attended the forecast event at the Long Beach Convention Center. The Port of Long Beach hosts the event each year to bring together industry experts to offer insight into trends in global shipping, and how they affect the San Pedro Bay port complex.
Six experts from all sectors of the supply chain offered their views on new container vessel alliances, fluid international trade policy, railroads, trucking and other issues facing worldwide commerce.
Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners Vice President Lou Anne Bynum said that the annual forecast helps industry see the big picture and plan more accurately for the months ahead.
"We are focused on strengthening our partnerships with all of our customers and future customers — to provide efficient, sustainable service,” said Bynum. "To provide that kind of service, we know that we must be in close communication with our supply chain partners to ensure that everyone is ready to work together."
"We have challenges this year, from new alliances to the effects of the new vessel-sharing alliances, growth among competing North American ports and how Washington will address trade policies," said Port of Long Beach Interim Chief Executive Duane Kenagy. "This forum gives us the opportunity to step back and take a look at our industry’s issues from all angles."
Other panelists at the 2017 Pulse of the Ports included John Zarrella, Sales Manager, Preferred Shipper Services; Ken O'Brien, Chief Operating Officer, Gemini Shippers Group; Steve Rothberg, Partner, Mercator International LLC; Anthony B. Hatch, Principal, ABH Consulting; and Alex H. Cherin, Intermodal Conference Executive Director, California Trucking Association. The question and answer portion of the event was moderated by Mark Hirzel, District Manager of A.N. Deringer Inc. Port of Long Beach Chief Commercial Officer Noel Hacegaba served as the master of ceremonies for the event.
FTC Returns Money to Victims of Business Directory Scheme - Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 974 checks totaling more than $535,000 to businesses and nonprofit organizations that lost money to the Fair Guide business directory scheme, which tricked them into paying for online directory listings they didn’t want. As a result of the FTC’s action, the company and its principals were banned from the business directory business.
Organizations that lost money are getting back approximately 24 percent of their loss, an average of $549.37. Recipients should deposit or cash checks within 60 days. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash refund checks.
People who have questions about the case can contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., at 877-657-8808.
To learn more about the FTC’s refund program, visit
www.ftc.gov/refunds.