Domestic Companies Ask for AD/CV Duties on Steel Nails From Seven More Countries
A domestic manufacturer filed requests on May 29 for new antidumping and countervailing duties on steel nails from India, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam. According to the Mid Continent Steel & Wire, underselling by exporters in the seven countries are causing falling prices and a loss of market share for U.S. companies.
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Steel nails from China and the United Arab Emirates are already subject to antidumping duties. But Mid Continent says that, despite the duties, domestic industry hasn't been able to benefit from improved economic conditions in the past several years. Instead, importers have shifted their orders to the seven countries identified in the petition. "The full benefits of stronger U.S. demand, as well as orders on steel nail imports from China and the UAE, have not been fully realized by the U.S. industry, given the surge in unfairly traded steel nail imports from Subject Countries," it said.
Proposed Scope
The petition's proposed scope is different from the current AD duty orders on steel nails from China. Mid Continent is proposing that the Commerce Department and the ITC define the scope of their investigations as follows:
"The merchandise covered by this proceeding is certain steel nails having a shaft length not exceeding 12 inches. Certain steel nails include, but are not limited to, nails made from round wire and nails that are cut from plate. Certain steel nails may be of one piece construction or constructed of two or more pieces. Certain steel nails may be produced from any type of steel, and may have any type of surface finish, head type, shank, point type, shaft length and shaft diameter. Finishes include, but are not limited to, coating in vinyl, zinc (galvanized, including but not limited to electroplating or hot dipping one or more times), phosphate cement, and paint. Certain steel nails may have one or more surface finishes. Head styles include, but are not limited to, flat, projection, cupped, oval, brad, headless, double, countersunk, and sinker. Shank styles include, but are not limited to, smooth, barbed, screw threaded, ring shank and fluted. Screw-threaded nails subject to this proceeding are driven using direct force and not by turning the fastener using a tool that engages with the head. Point styles include, but are not limited to, diamond, blunt, needle, chisel and blunt or no point. Certain steel nails may be sold in bulk, or they may be collated in any manner using any material. Certain steel nails remain subject merchandise whether imported in packages consisting solely of subject merchandise, or packaged or shipped in combination with non-subject articles, including but not limited to pneumatic nail guns, hand tools, and household tool kits.
"Excluded from the scope of the order are steel roofing nails specifically certified at the time of entry to satisfy the specifications of certain Type I, Style 20 nails as identified in Tables 29 through 33 of ASTM Standard F1667 (2013 revision).
"Also excluded from the scope of the order are fasteners suitable for use in powder-actuated hand tools, not threaded and threaded, which are currently classified under Harmonized Tariff System of the United States (‘HTSUS’) subheadings 7317.00.20 and 7317.00.30.
"Also excluded from the scope of the order are fasteners having a case hardness greater than or equal to 50 HRC, a carbon content greater than or equal to 0.5 percent, a round head, a secondary reduced-diameter raised head section, a centered shank, and a smooth symmetrical point, suitable for use in gas-actuated hand tools.
"Also excluded from the scope of the order are corrugated nails. A corrugated nail is made of a small strip of corrugated steel with sharp points on one side.
"Also excluded from the scope of the order are thumb tacks, which are currently classified under HTSUS 7317.00.10.00.
"Certain steel nails subject to this proceeding are currently classified under HTSUS subheadings 7317.00.55, 7317.00.65 and 7317.00.75.
"While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive."
Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support
The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on steel nails from India, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam. Comments are due by June 18.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.