Global Fastener News

Commerce Dept. Sets Tariffs on Chinese Threaded Rod

Jason Sandefur

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced its affirmative final determination in the antidumping duty investigation on imports of steel threaded rod from China.

The Commerce Department determined that exporters/producers from China have sold steel threaded rod in the U.S. at 55.16% to 206% below normal value.

Nine Chinese exporters who cooperated with the investigation received a separate final dumping rate of 55.16%. Ningbo Yinzhou, who failed verification, and all other exporters will receive the China-wide rate of 206%.

“As a result of this final determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the final rates,” the Commerce Department stated.

From 2007 to 2008, imports of steel threaded rod from China decreased nearly 18.8% by volume and were valued at an estimated $85.3 million in 2008, according to the Commerce Department.

Products covered by this investigation includes “steel threaded rod, which is certain threaded rod, bar, or studs, of carbon quality steel, having a solid, circular cross section, of any diameter, in any straight length, that have been forged, turned, cold-drawn, cold-rolled, machine straightened, or otherwise cold-finished, and into which threaded grooves have been applied.” The probe looked at threaded rod that was non-headed and threaded along greater than 25% of overall length.”

Excluded from the scope of the investigation were threaded rod, bar, or studs which are threaded only on one or both ends and the threading covers 25% or less of the total length; and threaded rod, bar, or studs made to ASTM A193 Grade B7, ASTM A193 Grade B7M, ASTM A193 Grade B16, or ASTM A320 Grade L7 standards.

Before the tariffs take effect, the U.S. International Trade Commission must make its final determination on the matter, which is scheduled to happen by April 8. If the ITC makes an affirmative determination that imports of steel threaded rod from China materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue an antidumping order.
If the ITC makes a negative injury determination, the investigation will be terminated.

The Commerce Department set preliminary anti-dumping duties on threaded rod imports from China in October 2008.

The investigation was initiated after Pelham, AL-based Vulcan Threaded Products Inc. filed an antidumping petition in March 2008, claiming a surge in steel threaded rod from China, with the average dumping margin reaching 89% (see FIN 4/01/08). �2009 FastenerNews.com