The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today announced its determinations in connection with its preliminary phase antidumping investigation involving imports of lawn and garden steel fence posts from China.

The Commission determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports from China of U or hat shaped lawn and garden fence posts made of steel and/or any other metal, weighing one pound or less per foot, that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value. The Commission determined that there is not a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports from China of other fence posts made of steel and/or other metal, including tee, farm and sign posts, weighing one pound or less per foot that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun and Commissioner Stephen Koplan found two domestic like products in this investigation. With respect to U or hat shaped lawn and garden fence posts made of steel and/or any other metal, weighing one pound or less per foot, they made affirmative determinations. With respect to other fence posts made of steel and/or other metal including tee, farm and sign posts weighing one pound or less per foot, they made negative determinations. Commissioner Lynn M. Bragg voted in the affirmative in this investigation. Vice Chairman Jennifer A. Hillman and Commissioner Marcia E. Miller found one domestic like product and voted in the negative in this investigation.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigation of imports from China of U or hat shaped lawn and garden fence posts made of steel and/or any other metal, weighing one pound or less per foot, with its preliminary determination due on or about October 8, 2002.

The Commission's public report Lawn and Garden Steel Fence Posts from China (Investigation No. 731-TA-1010 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3521, June 2002) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after July 15, 2001, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: For purposes of this investigation, the product scope includes all "lawn and garden steel fence posts," in whatever form, shape, or size, that are produced in China, weighing up to 1 pound per foot (about 1.49 kilograms per meter), and are of steel and/or any other metal. These posts are normally "U" shaped or "hat" shaped or any other similar shape excluding round or square tubing or pipes. Imports of these products are classified under HTS subheading 7326.90.8535: fence posts, studded with corrugations, knobs, studs, notches or similar protrusions with or without anchor plates. Fence posts classified under subheading 7308.90 are also included in the scope if of steel and/or metal. Specifically excluded from the scope are tee posts, farm posts, and sign posts, provided that the posts weigh over 1 pound per foot.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary antidumping.
2.   Petitioner:  Steel City Corp. (Youngstown, OH).
3.   Investigation instituted by USITC:  May 1, 2002.
4.   Conference:  May 22, 2002.
5.   USITC vote and USITC determination to Department of Commerce:  June 17, 2002. 
6.   USITC views to Department of Commerce:  June 24, 2002.

U.S. Industry:

1.   Number of reporting domestic producers in 2001:  6 (1)
2.   Location of producers' plants:  Arkansas, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
3.   Employment of production and related workers in 2001: (2) 
4.   U.S. producers' U.S. shipments in 2001:  (2)
5.   U.S. consumption, 2001:  (2)
6.   Ratio of quantity of imports from all sources to U.S. consumption in 2001:  (2)
7.   Ratio of quantity of subject imports to U.S. consumption in 2001:  (2)

U.S. Imports:

1.   Quantity of subject imports in 2001:  (2)
2.   Value of subject imports in 2001:  (2)

(1) Only five of which produce fence posts that weigh 1 pound or less per foot, and only one of which produces "U" shaped or "hat" shaped lawn and garden fence posts that weigh 1 pound or less per foot.

(2) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.