January 8, 2004
News Release 04-006
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-432 and 731-TA-1024-1028 (Final)

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE STEEL WIRE STRAND FROM BRAZIL, INDIA, KOREA, MEXICO, AND THAILAND INJURES U.S. INDUSTRY, SAYS ITC

 The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from India that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and imports of this product from Brazil, India, Korea, Mexico, and Thailand that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, Vice Chairman Jennifer A. Hillman, and Commissioners Marcia E. Miller, Stephen Koplan, Charlotte R. Lane, and Daniel R. Pearson voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from India and antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Brazil, India, Korea, Mexico, and Thailand.

The Commission's public report Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Brazil, India, Korea, Mexico, and Thailand (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-432 and 731-TA-1024-1028 (Final), USITC Publication 3663, January 2004) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after February 4, 2004, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202- 205-2104.

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Brazil, India, Korea, Mexico, and Thailand
Investigations Nos. 701-TA-432 and 731-TA-1024-1028 (Final)

Product Description: The imported product subject to these investigations is prestressed concrete steel wire strand, which is strand produced from wire of non-stainless, non-galvanized steel, and which is suitable for use in both pre-tensioned and post-tensioned prestressed concrete applications. The subject product includes all types, grades, and diameters of both covered and uncovered strand. The merchandise subject to these investigations is provided for under statistical reporting numbers 7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).

Status of Proceedings:
                                                       
 1.  Types of investigations:  Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
 2.  Petitioners:  American Spring Wire Corp., Bedford Heights, OH; Insteel Wire Products
          Co., Mt. Airy, NC; and Sumiden Wire Products Corp., Stockton, CA. 
 3.  Investigations instituted by USITC:  January 31, 2003.
 4.  Hearing:  December 2, 2003.
 5.  USITC vote:  January 8, 2004.
 6.  USITC notifications to U.S. Department of Commerce:  January 21, 2004.


U.S. Industry:

 1.  Number of producers in 2002:  Five.
 2.  Location of producers' plants:  California, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina,                    Tennessee, and Texas.
 3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2002:  308.
 4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 2002:  $181,395,000.
 5.  Ratio of the value of total U.S. shipments of imports to total U.S. consumption 
          in 2002:  30.1%.

                                                  
U.S. Imports:                                     

 1.  From the subject countries during 2002:  $38,315,000.
 2.  From other countries during 2002:  $15,108,000.
 3.  Leading sources during 2002:  Mexico and Korea (in terms of total value).
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