The affirmative determinations resulted from 3-0 votes. Chairman Marcia E. Miller, Vice Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, and Commissioner Carol T. Crawford voted in the affirmative.

The affirmative determinations mean that the ITC found that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of stainless steel round wire from Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, and Taiwan that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

As a result of the ITC's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct antidumping investigations of imports of stainless steel round wire from Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, and Taiwan, with its preliminary antidumping determination due on or about September 23, 1998.

The Commission's public report Stainless Steel Round Wire from Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, and Taiwan (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-781-786 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3111, June 1998) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available without charge after June 26, 1998, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Stainless steel round wire is any cold-formed (i.e., cold-drawn, cold-rolled) stainless steel product, of a cylindrical contour, sold in coils or spools, and not over 0.703 inch (18 mm) in maximum solid cross-sectional dimension. Stainless steel round wire is made of iron-based alloys containing, by weight 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with or without other elements. Metallic coatings, such as nickel and copper coatings, may be applied.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation:  Preliminary antidumping.
2. Petitioners:  ACS Industries, Inc., Al Tech Specialty Steel Corp., Branford Wire &
   Manufacturing Co., Carpenter Technology Corp., Handy & Harman Specialty Wire
   Group, Industrial Alloys, Inc., Loos & Co., Inc., Sandvik Steel Co., Sumiden Wire
   Products Corp., and Techalloy Co., Inc.
3. Investigation instituted by USITC:  March 27, 1998.
4. Conference:  April 17, 1998.
5. USITC vote:  June 4, 1998.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce:  June 12, 1998.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of domestic producers in 1997:  Fifteen. 1/
2. Location of producers' plants:  Production facilities are primarily located in California,
   Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode
   Island, and Tennessee.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 1997:  1,365
4. U.S. producers' shipments in 1997:  144,518,000 pounds.
5. U.S. consumption in 1997:  196,053,000 pounds.
6. Ratio of quantity of alleged unfair imports to U.S. consumption in 1997:  15.5 percent.

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports of stainless steel round wire in 1997:  30,368,000 pounds.
2. Value of subject imports of stainless steel round wire in 1997:  $54,575,000.
3. Leading sources of imports in 1997 (by quantity):  Canada, Korea, and Sweden.

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1/  Fifteen producers provided data in response to the Commission's questionnaire; however,
the total number of U.S. producers remains uncertain.