Japan Welcomes US Removal of Hot Coil Antidumping Duty

United States International Trade Commission announced on Thursday the commission decided to revoke the antidumping duty on hot rolled steel sheet import from Japan following five year review. ITC sees the revoking of antidumping duty would not be likely to lead to material injury to domestic steel industry. The antidumping duty, which 40.26% of duty on the import, will finish after the long duration since 1999. Japanese makers could export hot rolled sheet to USA following revoking of the high rate antidumping duty.

Japan Iron and Steel Federation’s chairman Eiji Hayashida made the comment on Friday the federation welcomes ITC’s decision. He said in the comment ITC’s decision confirmed consistent position of Japanese steel industry Japanese hot rolled sheet export from Japan is specialized in high value added products especially in automotive steel. He also said Japanese steel industry hopes existing antidumping duty cases on Japanese steel products will be revoked as soon as possible.

ITC decided to revoke antidumping duty on imported Japanese hot rolled sheet with 4.75 millimeters or less thickness and 0.5 inch or more width. The antidumping duty has been continued after 2005 following the result of first review. ITC had started second review last year. Even after the revoking, US steel makers could appeal the case to superior organization.

ITC also decided to revoke the antidumping duty on hot rolled sheet import from Brazil on Thursday. However, ITC determined to keep the suspended antidumping duty on the import from Russia.

ITC decided to revoke the antidumping on steel import from Japan for the first time since revoking of the duty on oil country tubular goods in 2007. ITC also revoked the duty on coated steel, grain oriented electrical steel and stainless steel angle in 2006. However, antidumping duty continues on tinplate, plate, seamless pipe, large diameter welded pipe, clad steel plate, stainless steel bar, wire rod and sheet. ITC has started the review on the duty on plate and will launch the review on the tin plate case in June.