The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of tin- and chromium-coated steel sheet from Japan that the Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun and Commissioners Lynn M. Bragg, Marcia E. Miller, and Jennifer A. Hillman voted in the affirmative. Chairman Stephen Koplan and Commissioner Thelma J. Askey voted in the negative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will direct the U.S. Customs Service to impose antidumping duties on imports of tin- and chromium-coated steel sheet from Japan.

The Commission's public report Tin- and Chromium-Coated Steel Sheet from Japan (Investigation No. 731-TA-860 (Final), USITC Publication 3337, August 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be obtained after August 30, 2000, 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.

Product Description: Tin- and chromium-coated steel sheet is an intermediate product used to manufacture containers and caps of containers for both food and non-food products. Chromium-coated steel sheet is more corrosion-resistant than tin-coated steel sheet and is used primarily for two-piece beer and soft drink cans and ends. Tin-coated steel sheet is typically used in welded food, beverage, aerosol, and paint cans. To manufacture both tin- and chromium coated steel sheet, strips of hot-rolled sheet are cold-rolled to approximate the user's desired thickness, followed by annealing (heat treating) and either temper rolling or a second cold reduction before being electroplated with either tin or chromium.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping.
2. Petitioner: Weirton Steel Company, Weirton, WV.
3. Investigation instituted by USITC: Oct. 28, 1999.
4. Public Hearing: Jun. 29, 2000.
5. USITC vote: Aug. 2, 2000.
6. USITC notification of Commerce: Aug. 9, 2000.

U.S. Industry:

1. Number of Producers: Seven.
2. Location of producers' plants:  Production facilities are located in West Virginia,
   Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and California.
3. Employment of production and related workers, 1999: 6,004.
4. U.S. shipments, 1999: 3,227,134 short tons (valued at $1.9 billion).
5. U.S. consumption, 1999: (1).
6. Ratio of quantity of imports to U.S. consumption in 1999: (1).

U.S. Imports:

1. Quantity of subject imports in 1999 (short tons):
   Japan:  336,961;  Other sources: (1);  Total: (1).

2. Value of subject imports in 1999 (1,000 dollars):
   Japan: 195,839;  Other sources: (1);  Total: (1).

3. Leading source of imports in 1999 (quantity): Japan.

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.