Jan. 23, 2013
ITC Ruling Favors U.S. Clad Steel Plate Producers
Domestic producers of clad steel plate are applauding the U.S. International Trade Commission's determination last month that revoking the antidumping duty order on imports of clad plate from Japan would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of injury to the U.S. industry. The ITC's determination comes on the heels of a Commerce Department finding that the foreign producers subject to the order were likely to resume dumping at a margin of 118.53 percent if the order was revoked.
"This is a very positive result for the domestic clad steel plate industry," said Kathleen Cannon, a partner at Washington, D.C.-based Kelley Drye & Warren and counsel to the domestic clad plate industry. "The significant volume of dumped imports from Japan likely to enter the United States absent this order would decimate the U.S. industry. The vote is an important step in preserving these U.S. manufacturing operations and the jobs of workers in this industry."
The existing trade order has been in place since 1996. The five-year review of this order was initiated on Feb. 1, 2012. As a result of last month’s vote, the order will remain in place for an additional five years before another sunset review is undertaken.
Clad steel plate is a flat-rolled, corrosion-resistant steel plate product used to manufacture vessels or structures for heavy industry projects where corrosion-resistant qualities are essential. The domestic producers of clad steel plate who participated in this review are ArcelorMittal USA and Dynamic Materials Corp. ArcelorMittal USA's clad plate manufacturing operations are in Coatesville, Pa., and Dynamic Material Corp.’s operations are in Mt. Braddock, Pa.