Commerce Finds Unfair Dumping of Steel Threaded Rod from China

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2008
Contact: Brittany Eck (202) 482-3809

COMMERCE FINDS UNFAIR DUMPING OF STEEL THREADED ROD FROM CHINA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation on imports of steel threaded rod from China. Steel threaded rod is primarily used in commercial construction where the threaded rods are cut to required lengths and used to suspend electrical conduit, as pipes for plumbing, or as HVAC ductwork and sprinkler pipes for fire protection.

“Dumping of imports of steel threaded rod in the U.S. market by foreign exporters unfairly undercuts American manufacturers,” said Assistant Secretary for Import Administration David Spooner. “The Administration is committed to aggressively enforcing America's trade remedy laws in order to achieve strong and fair relationships with our trading partners and secure America’s competitiveness.”

Commerce has preliminarily determined that producers/exporters from China have sold steel threaded rod in the United States at 77.85 to 206.00 percent below normal value. Mandatory respondents Jiaxing Brother Fastener Co., Ltd. and Ningbo Yingzhou Foreign Trade Co., Ltd., received preliminary dumping rates of 77.85 and 176.57 percent, respectively. Nine Chinese exporters received a separate preliminary rate of 91.22 percent. All other exporters received the China-wide rate of 206.00 percent based on adverse facts available.

As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates. Commerce is currently scheduled to make its final determination in December 2008.

The petitioner for this investigation is Vulcan Threaded Products Inc. from Pelham, Ala.

Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value. For more information about Import Administration or for the fact sheet on today’s decision, please visit www.trade.gov/ia.

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