The United States International Trade Commission completed its five-year review on stainless steel coiled plate from five countries, determining that trade actions should remain in place for another five years on imports from Belgium, Korea, South Africa and Taiwan, including a countervailing duty against South Africa. However, the commission lifted the trade sanctions on imports from Italy.

“We were disappointed that the commission decided not to continue the order against Italy,” says David A. Hartquist, counsel to the Specialty Steel Industry of North America and a partner in Kelley Drye & Warren, both based in Washington, D.C. 

Earlier in the month, the ITC made affirmative determinations retaining actions against Japan, Korea and Taiwan in a sunset review over stainless steel sheet and strip. Negative determinations lifted actions in the cases against Germany, Italy and Mexico.

“We will examine the written decisions of the individual commissioners when the opinions are issued to determine whether to appeal the negative decisions to the Court of International Trade," says Hartquist, who represented petitioners AK Steel, ATI Allegheny Ludlum and North American Stainless in the case, along with the United Steelworkers union.