New Trade Case on Imports of Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from 15 Countries

New U.S. antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) petitions were filed on April 16, 2020 by Insteel Wire Products Company, Sumiden Wire Products Corporation, and Wire Mesh Corporation (collectively, the “Petitioners”) against imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand (“PC strand”) from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.

PC strand consists of multiple steel wires (non-stainless and non-galvanized) wound together to produce a strong, flexible product used to strengthen prestressed concrete structures. Typical applications of prestressed concrete include, for example, bridge decks, bridge girders and piling and stay cables, precast concrete panels and structural supports, roof trusses, floor supports, and foundations in areas with expansive soils.

PC strand includes all types, grades, and diameters, and both covered and uncovered product. The merchandise covered by this Petition is the same as the merchandise that was the subject of 1978, 2004, and 2010 AD cases on PC strand.

The petitions include AD (less than fair value) allegations against Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates and a CVD (unfair subsidy) allegation against Turkey. The Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) will conduct the investigations.  Within the next 45 days, the ITC will determine if there is a reasonable indication that the imports are injuring the U.S. industry. If the ITC finds that standard is met, then the case will move to the DOC which will calculate the preliminary AD duty margins.

The DOC’s preliminary determinations are currently scheduled for July 10, 2020 (CVD) and September 23, 2020 (AD), which are the dates when importers will be required to deposit the calculated duties upon the products’ entry in the U.S. market.

There are strict statutory deadlines associated with these proceedings and affected companies are advised to prepare as soon as possible. If this product is of interest to you, please let us know so that we can provide you with additional information as it becomes available.

The following are key facts about this trade case:

Petitioners: Insteel Wire Products Company, Sumiden Wire Products Corporation, and Wire Mesh Corporation

Foreign Producers/Exporters and US Importers:  Please contact us for a listing of individual companies named in the petition.

Alleged AD and CVD margins:  Petitioners have alleged the following AD margins:

• Argentina: a calculated AD margin of 60.40 percent ad valorem,
• Colombia: a calculated AD margin of 85.95 percent ad valorem,
• Egypt: a calculated AD margin of 29.91 percent ad valorem,
• Indonesia: a calculated AD margin of 72.28 percent ad valorem,
• Italy: a calculated AD margin of 30.61 percent ad valorem,  
• Malaysia: a calculated AD margin of 40.05 percent ad valorem,
• Netherlands: a calculated AD margin of 30.86 percent ad valorem,
• Saudi Arabia: a calculated AD margin of 194.40 percent ad valorem,
• South Africa: a calculated AD margin of 155.10 percent ad valorem,
• Spain: a calculated AD margin of 38.57 percent ad valorem,
• Taiwan: a calculated AD margin of 23.89 percent ad valorem,
• Tunisia: a calculated AD margin of 53.22 percent ad valorem,
• Turkey: a calculated AD margin of 53.65 percent ad valorem and a CVD margin above de minimis,
• Ukraine: calculated AD margins ranging from 17.70 to 53.83 percent ad valorem, and
• United Arab Emirates: a calculated AD margin of 174.46 percent ad valorem.

Merchandise covered by the scope of the case:

The merchandise covered by these petitions is prestressed concrete steel wire strand (“PC strand”), produced from wire of nonstainless, non-galvanized steel, which is suitable for use in prestressed concrete (both pretensioned and post-tensioned) applications. The product definition encompasses covered and uncovered strand and all types, grades, and diameters of PC strand. PC strand is normally sold in the United States in sizes ranging from 0.25 inches to 0.70 inches in diameter. PC strand made from galvanized wire is only excluded from the scope if the zinc and/or zinc oxide coating meets or exceeds the 0.40 oz./ft2 standard set forth in ASTM-A-475.

The PC strand subject to this order is currently classifiable under subheadings 7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.

If you have any questions regarding the content of this alert, please contact Mark Ludwikowski (mludwikowski@clarkhill.com; 202-640-6680), Kevin Williams (kwilliams@clarkhill.com; 312-985-5907); William Sjoberg (wsjoberg@clarkhill.com; 202-772-0924), Courtney Gayle Taylor (cgtaylor@clarkhill.com; 202-552-2350); or another member of Clark Hill's International Trade Business Unit.