Trade Cases

AD/CVD Investigations Update

Written by Sandy Williams

July 8, 2020

The Department of Commerce has initiated an investigation to determine if seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line and pressure pipe from the Czech Republic, Korea, Russia and Ukraine is being sold at less than fair value in the U.S. market and whether such pipe is being subsidized by the governments of Korea and Russia.

The investigation is being pursued in response to a petition filed by Vallourec Star on July 8, 2020. The alleged dumping margins are:

  • Czech Republic: 48.18% to 49.42%
  • Korea: 119.07% to 132.16%
  • Russia: 30.31% to 246.31%
  • Ukraine: 40.28% to 40.44%

Commerce Finds Circumvention on Imports of China CORE Products

The U.S. Department of Commerce, in a final ruling on July 7, determined that corrosion-resistant steel products from China, that are further processed in Costa Rica and the United Arab Emirates before import to the United States, are circumventing U.S antidumping and countervailing duty orders.

Commerce will instruct Customs and Border Protection to continue to collect AD and CVD cash deposits of up to 199.43 percent and 39.05 percent, respectively, as established by preliminary determinations in February 2020. The rates are those established for “all other” Chinese producer and/or exporters from the underlying investigation.

The cash deposits are retroactive on unliquidated products dating from the beginning of Commerce’s self-initiated investigation on Aug. 12, 2019.

Removal of AD Duties on Imports of Cold Rolled Steel from Korean Manufacturers

In a second annual review, the Department of Commerce removed antidumping duties on imports of cold rolled steel products from South Korean manufacturers Hyundai Steel Co. and POSCO. In its determination, Commerce said that the companies were not selling steel in the U.S. below normal value during the period of review, Sept. 1, 2017, through Aug. 31, 2018.

According to Yonhap News, POSCO and Hyundai Steel said the Commerce decision could have a “positive effect on exports of their steel products to the U.S.”  Any increase in exports of the product from South Korea, however, would be limited by Section 232 quotas as well as by weak demand in the U.S. as a result of the pandemic.

AD Changes for Korea OCTG Producers

In a fourth annual antidumping review of oil country tubular goods, Commerce lowered SeAH Steel’s antidumping duties to 3.96 percent from last year’s preliminary determination of 17.04 percent. Hyundai Steel, previously assigned a 0.77 percent duty, was exempted from duties by Commerce in its review.

Sandy Williams

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