Carbon Rod Antidumping Order Preliminary Exclusions

By Fred Waite, AWPA Counsel

Exclusion for Value Spring Quality Rod from Korea

The US Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced its initiation of and preliminary results in the changed circumstances review regarding the requested exclusion of valve spring quality wire rod from the antidumping (AD) order on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Korea.  Based on the request from substantially all domestic rod producers, Commerce has preliminarily determined to exclude valve spring quality wire rod from the scope of the AD order on wire rod from Korea.  The announcement identifies a very specific product description including diameter, elements in the composition and non-metallic inclusions. The comment period closed on March 29.  Final results are pending.

Exclusion for Tire Cord Wire Rod from Korea and the United Kingdom

In November 2018, US Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced its preliminary results in the changed circumstances review regarding the requested exclusion of grade 1078 and higher tire cord quality wire rod from the antidumping (AD) orders on carbon and certain alloy steel wire rod from Korea and the United Kingdom.

Based on the request from substantially all domestic rod producers, Commerce has preliminarily determined to exclude grade 1078 and higher tire cord quality wire rod to be used in the production of tire cord wire from the scope of the AD orders on wire rod from Korea and the United Kingdom, but not Spain.

The designation of the products as “tire cord quality” indicates the acceptability of the product for use in the production of tire cord applications which require that the tire cord wire rod be drawn into wire with a diameter of 0.405 mm or less.  There is a substantial exclusion language, which has been recommended. The designation of the products as “tire cord quality” indicates the acceptability of the product for use in the production of tire cord applications which require that the tire cord wire rod be drawn into wire with a diameter of 0.405 mm or less. The quality designations are presumed to indicate that these products are being used in tire cord applications, and such merchandise intended for the tire cord applications is not included in the scope.  Importers of tire cord quality wire rod will attach, as a condition of entry, a certification of end use that certifies that the Grade 1078 and above tire cord quality wire rod will be used only in the production of tire cord wire.

Additional comments were requested by Commerce and were submitted by both rod suppliers and purchasers of tire cord wire rod, in January 2019.

Commerce has not issued its final results.