November 9, 2015
News Release 15-107
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-753, 754, and 756 (Third Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from China, Russia, and Ukraine

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on cut‐to‐length carbon steel plate from China and terminating the suspended investigations on cut‐to‐length carbon steel plate from Russia and Ukraine would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing antidumping duty order on imports of this product from China and the existing suspension agreements concerning these products from Russia and Ukraine will remain in place. 

Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the affirmative.  Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent and Commissioner F. Scott Kieff voted in the affirmative with respect to China and Russia and in the negative with respect to Ukraine.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from China, Russia, and Ukraine (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-753, 754, and 756 (Third Review), USITC Publication 4581, December 2015) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by December 23, 2015; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.


BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information.  Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review.  If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from China, Russia, and Ukraine were instituted on October 1, 2014.

On January 5, 2015, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews.  Regarding China, all six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and that the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review.  Regarding Russia and Ukraine, all six Commissioners concluded that both the domestic group responses and the respondent group responses for these reviews were adequate and voted for full reviews.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct full reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

# # #