The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of steel wire rope from China, India, and Malaysia, but not Thailand, that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, Thelma J. Askey, and Deanna Tanner Okun made affirmative determinations with respect to imports of this product from China, India, and Malaysia. As a result of the affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations of imports of steel wire rope from China, India, and Malaysia, with its preliminary antidumping determinations due on or about August 8, 2000.

With respect to Thailand, Commissioners Hillman, Koplan, and Okun made a finding of negligibility regarding present injury and a negative determination regarding threat of injury; Vice Chairman Miller and Commissioner Askey made a finding of negligibility; and Chairman Bragg made an affirmative threat determination. Imports are generally deemed "negligible" if they amounted to less than 3 percent of all such merchandise imported into the United States in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available preceding the filing of the petition. As a result of these findings, the investigation regarding Thailand will end.

The Commission's public report Steel Wire Rope from China, India, Malaysia, and Thailand (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-868-871 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3294, April 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after May 15, 2000, 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:

The imported product subject to these investigations is steel wire rope, both carbon and stainless. The scope of these investigations does not include stranded wire and specifically excludes steel wire rope fitted with fittings or made up into articles and brass-plated steel wire rope.

Status of Proceedings:
  1.   Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping.
  2.   Petitioner:  The Committee of Domestic Steel Wire Rope and Specialty Cable
          Manufacturers(1).
  3.   Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  March 1, 2000.
  4.   Commission's conference:  March 22, 2000.
  5.   USITC vote:  April 14, 2000.
  6.   USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  April 17, 2000.


U.S. Industry:
  1.   Number of producers in 1999:  Twelve.
  2.   Location of major producers' plants:  Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana,
          Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
  3.   Employment of production and related workers in 1999:  1,588.
  4.   Apparent U.S. consumption in 1999:  $320,360,000.
  5.   Ratio of the value of total U.S. shipments of imports to total U.S. consumption 
          in 1999:  41 percent.


U.S. Imports:
  1.   From the subject countries during 1999:  $35,519,000.
  2.   From other countries during 1999:  $95,858,000.
  3.   Leading sources during 1999:  Korea and China (in terms of total value).

(1) The Committee is comprised of the following U.S. producers: Bergen Cable Technology, Inc., Bridon American Corp., Carolina Steel & Wire Corp., Continental Cable Co., Loos & Co., Inc., Paulsen Wire Rope Corp., Sava Industries, Inc., Strandflex, A Division of MSW, Inc., Williamsport Wirerope Works, Inc., and Wire Rope Corporation of America, Inc. All but Bergen, Sava, Strandflex, and Williamsport are directly participating in the petitioning action.