US ITA ups duties on French stainless bar
The International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce has determined that stainless bar imported from France by Ugitech SA will carry a duty of 14.98% for the next year, up more than 11 points from the prior year.
In addition, the ITA also ruled that stainless bar imported by Ugitech from Italy will carry a margin of 33%. However, a source knowledgeable about Ugitech’s importing operations tells Steel Business Briefing the company does not import any stainless bar products on its own and thus the margin has no impact on its American sales.
Domestic mills did attempt during the review to include Trafilerie Bedini, a Ugitech-owned company, arguing they have an overlap in operations and in marketing stainless bar products. The ITA, however, disagreed with the US mills, noting that Bedini was not included in the original dumping order and that Ugitech had not imported any product into the country during the review period.
The decisions cover the period of March 2003 through February 2004 and the duties will apply through July 2007, when they will be adjusted if necessary based upon another ITA review.
The source tells SBB the duties on French-produced stainless bar increased by more than 11 percentage points primarily as a result of currency fluctuations between the dollar and euro. It is likely they will be readjusted during the next review period.
In addition, the ITA also ruled that stainless bar imported by Ugitech from Italy will carry a margin of 33%. However, a source knowledgeable about Ugitech’s importing operations tells Steel Business Briefing the company does not import any stainless bar products on its own and thus the margin has no impact on its American sales.
Domestic mills did attempt during the review to include Trafilerie Bedini, a Ugitech-owned company, arguing they have an overlap in operations and in marketing stainless bar products. The ITA, however, disagreed with the US mills, noting that Bedini was not included in the original dumping order and that Ugitech had not imported any product into the country during the review period.
The decisions cover the period of March 2003 through February 2004 and the duties will apply through July 2007, when they will be adjusted if necessary based upon another ITA review.
The source tells SBB the duties on French-produced stainless bar increased by more than 11 percentage points primarily as a result of currency fluctuations between the dollar and euro. It is likely they will be readjusted during the next review period.