WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Commerce on Tuesday set preliminary duties of up to 81% on imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from China after ruling they were produced using unfair government subsidies.
Commerce set a preliminary subsidy rate of 81.36% for Hebei Iron & Steel and 10.30% for Benxi Steel and all other producers and exporters in China.
The complaint about imports of hot-rolled carbon steel and alloy steel rod from China, which totaled $313 million in 2013, was made by ArcelorMittal USA, Charter Steel, Evraz Pueblo, Gerdau Ameristeel, Keystone Consolidated Industries and Nucor Corp. (IW 500/61) (NUE).
Commerce is due to make its final decision by Nov. 12, at the same time as its final decision in a parallel investigation into dumping of the steel wire rod.
(Reporting by Krista Hughes; Editing by Richard Chang)
Copyright Reuters, 2014
