U.S. steelmakers demand investigation into imports core products from 10 countries

Steel NewsDate: 12-09-2024 by: Ngoc Cam

U.S initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of corrosion-resistant flat products (CORE) from ten countries, including Vietnam.

Several major American steel manufacturers, including Steel Dynamics, Nucor Corporation and U.S. Steel, have formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) to launch an anti-dumping investigation into imports of corrosion-resistant flat products (CORE).

These products, which include a range of steel materials used widely in construction, automotive manufacturing and other critical industries, are being imported from 10 countries at prices the petitioners allege are unfairly low. The countries identified in the petition are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Vietnam.

U.S. probes CORE imports from 10 countries, including Vietnam

The complainants argue that imports from these countries have caused substantial damage to the U.S. domestic industry and that the situation will worsen if no action is taken. Additionally, investments by producers in these countries to increase galvanized steel production capacity have raised concerns about the potential for increased exports to the United States.

Barry T. Schneider, President and COO of Steel Dynamics, stated, "Between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2024, CORE imports from the ten subject countries increased from less than 1.25 million tons to almost 2 million tons, a significant increase of 57%. The surge in unfair CORE imports has had a substantial negative impact on the volumes, prices and profitability of the domestic steel industry, necessitating these cases."

The products in question fall under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) codes: 7210.30.0030, 7210.30.0060, 7210.41.0000, 7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0040, 7210.49.0045, 7210.49.0091, 7210.49.0095, 7210.61.0000, 7210.69.0000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 7210.70.6090, 7210.90.6000, 7210.90.9000, 7212.20.0000, 7212.30.1030, 7212.30.1090, 7212.30.3000, 7212.30.5000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7212.60.0000, 7225.91.0000, 7225.92.0000, 7226.99.0110, and 7226.99.0130.

In July of this year, the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) and six other industry groups urged the House of Representatives to include the Playing Field 2.0 Act in the upcoming legislative package aimed at protecting the United States from unfair trade practices by China.

The petition underscores the necessity of implementing measures to safeguard the domestic steel industry from the increasing influx of imported steel products, ensuring fairness and sustainability for U.S. steel producers.

The official announcement regarding this anti-dumping investigation has not yet been released. Readers are encouraged to follow MRS Steel for the latest updates on developments in the international and Vietnamese steel markets.