U.S. steelmakers file anti-dumping case

U.S. steelmakers file anti-dumping case

WASHINGTON (AFP): U.S. steel manufacturers filed an anti-
dumping case Friday demanding duties of up to 304 percent against
producers in 11 countries and charging five governments with
extending illegal subsidies.

Lawyers for the U.S. firms charged in a statement that steel
was being dumped here from Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Germany,
Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago,
Ukraine and Venezuela.

In a petition filed to the U.S. International Trade Commission
(ITC) and Commerce Department, they demanded duties of up to 304
percent on the imports, which they said were being sold in the
United States for less than on the home markets.

They also accused the governments of Brazil, Canada, Germany,
Trinidad and Tobago and Turkey of providing substantial illegal
subsidies to carbon steel wire rod industries.

The subsidies were given in the form of export and investment
incentives, preferential loans, grants, equity infusions and debt
forgiveness, the statement said.

U.S. petitioners were Co-Steel Raritan, GS Industries,
Keystone Consolidated Industries and North Star Steel.

The unfair trade petition launches a year-long process,
starting with a 45-day investigation by the ITC, which must make
a preliminary finding as to whether the imports may harm U.S.
industry.

The U.S. manufacturers said research showed steel imports from
other countries, notably Argentina and India, were also being
dumped in the United States.

But the U.S. companies said they decided against filing a
complaint because the countries' share of the imports was
relatively small.

"We will be monitoring imports throughout the investigation to
determine whether countries not covered by the cases attempt to
increase their dumped and subsidized imports into the United
States," said the attorney for the U.S. steel companies, Paul
Rosenthal.