The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that an industry in the United States is neither materially injured nor threatened with material injury by reason of imports of stainless steel round wire from Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, and Taiwan that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

The negative final determinations resulted from 6-0 votes. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Carol T. Crawford, Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, and Thelma J. Askey voted in the negative.

The ITC's votes in these final phase antidumping investigations were held on May 10, 1999, under section 735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. As a result of the negative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will not impose antidumping duties on these imports.

The Commission's public report Stainless Steel Round Wire from Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, and Taiwan (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-781-86 (Final), USITC Publication 3194, May 1999) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after June 8, 1999, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Stainless steel round wire is any cold-formed (i.e., cold-drawn, cold- rolled) stainless steel product, of a cylindrical contour, sold in coils or spools, and not over 0.703 inch (18 mm) in maximum solid cross-sectional dimension. Stainless steel round wire is made of iron-based alloys containing, by weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with or without other elements. Metallic coatings, such as nickel and copper coatings, may be applied.

Status of Proceedings:
1.   Type of investigation: Final antidumping.
2.   Petitioners: ACS Industries, Inc., Al Tech Specialty Steel Corp., Branford Wire &
     Manufacturing Co., Carpenter Technology Corp., Handy & Harman Specialty Wire
     Group, Industrial Alloys, Inc., Loos & Co., Inc., Sandvik Steel Co., Sumiden Wire
     Products Corp., and Techalloy Co., Inc.
3.   Investigations instituted by USITC: March 27, 1998.
4.   Hearing: April 6, 1999.
5.   USITC votes: May 10, 1999.
6.   USITC notification of Department of Commerce: May 18, 1999.

U.S. Industry:
1.   Number of domestic producers in 1998: Fifty.(1)
2.   Location of producers' plants: Production facilities are primarily located in Arkansas,
     California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York,
     North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
3.   Employment of production and related workers in 1998: 1,458
4.   U.S. producers' total shipments in 1998: 157,092,000 pounds.
5.   U.S. consumption in 1998: (2)
6.   Ratio of quantity of alleged unfair imports to U.S. consumption in 1998: (2)

U.S. Imports:
1.   Quantity of subject imports of stainless steel round wire in 1998: 32,520,000 pounds.
2.   Value of subject imports of stainless steel round wire in 1998: $55,726,000.
3.   Leading sources of imports in 1998 (by quantity): Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan.

(1) Estimate based on Department of Commerce survey.

(2) Withheld to avoid disclosure of Business Proprietary Information.