China Steel Nails: One-Piece Masonry Anchors Covered by AD/CV Duties, Commerce Says
One-piece split-drive zinc-plated steel masonry anchors imported by Simpson Strong-Tie are subject to antidumping duties on steel nails from China (A-570-909), the Commerce Department said in a scope ruling dated Dec. 1. Echoing several previous scope rulings on masonry anchors (see 13100102, 1702220043 and 1706200062), Commerce held that the scope of AD duties does not exempt masonry anchors, and that masonry anchors are specifically identified in the International Trade Commission’s injury report from the original steel nails investigation as an example of subject merchandise.
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Unlike some of those other anchors, Simpson’s one-piece split-drive anchors do not include a steel pin that Commerce has ruled is a steel nail. But according to Commerce, a passage in the ITC report says: “Although most nails are produced from a single piece of steel, some nails are produced from two or more pieces. Examples include a nail with a decorative head, such as an upholstery nail; a masonry anchor that comprises a zinc anchor and a steel wire nail.” Though the ITC injury report did not “explicitly identify ‘split-drive’ anchors as an example of subject merchandise, it did identify ‘masonry anchors’ as such,” Commerce said.
Simpson’s anchors are also covered by the physical characteristics identified in the scope, Commerce said. “Based on Simpson’s description and the samples provided, it is clear that these split-drive anchors are made of steel, are of one-piece of construction, have a split shank, are made with a variety of finishes, and have no point,” it said. “A plain reading of the scope includes certain steel nails with any type of shank, point type, or head style, made from steel, made from one-piece construction or constructed of two or more pieces, up to 12 inches long, and may be produced with a variety of finishes,” Commerce said. “As Simpson has stated, split-drive anchors are masonry anchors, and as such, we determine that the ‘split-drive’ anchors fall within the ITC’s example of subject merchandise,” the agency said.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of this scope ruling.