*EPF103 07/14/2003
Steel Wire Strand Dumping Case Advanced by Commerce Dept.
(Brazil, India, Mexico, Korea, Thailand shipments under investigation) (320)

Washington -- The U.S. Department of Commerce has ruled in a preliminary determination that imports from Brazil, India, Mexico, South Korea and Thailand of pre-stressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) were dumped on the U.S. market.

In a July 11 press release, the department calculated that the dumping margins ranged up to 118.75 percent.

Imposition of antidumping duties requires final affirmative determinations both from the Department of Commerce that dumping occurred and from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) that the imports injured or threatened U.S. industry.

The final Commerce determinations are expected in September for Brazil, India and Korea and in November for Mexico and Thailand.

In the meantime the customs bureau will collect cash or a bond equal to the calculated dumping margin on any subject imports. The money would be returned in the event of a negative determination.

The department calculated the preliminary dumping margins as follows:

-- Brazil: Belgo Bekaert S.A. and all others, 118.75 percent.
-- India: Tata Iron and Steel Company, Ltd., 102.07 percent; all others, 83.65 percent.
-- Mexico: Camesa, 57.64 percent; Cablesa, 77.20 percent; all others, 57.64 percent.
-- Korea: Dong-Il Steel Mfg. Co. Ltd., 54.19 percent; Kiswire Ltd., 54.19 percent; all others, 35.64 percent.
-- Thailand: Siam Industrial Wire Co., Ltd., and all others, 11.52 percent.

In 2002 U.S. imports of PC strand amounted to $4.4 million from Brazil, $3.3 million from India, $14.6 million from Mexico, $11.2 million from Korea and $1.8 million from Thailand.

Dumping is the import of goods at a price below the home-market or a third-country price or below the cost of production. A dumping margin represents by how much the fair-value price exceeds the dumped price.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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