The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain steel concrete reinforcing bars from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Korea, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine, but not from Austria, Japan, Russia, or Venezuela, which are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

With respect to Belarus, China, Indonesia, Korea, Latvia, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine, Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Lynn M. Bragg, Marcia E. Miller, Jennifer A. Hillman, and Thelma J. Askey made affirmative determinations. As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations of imports of certain steel concrete reinforcing bars from these eight countries, with its preliminary determinations due on or about December 5, 2000.

With respect to Japan, Chairman Koplan, Vice Chairman Okun, and Commissioners Miller, Hillman, and Askey made a negative determination; Commissioner Bragg made an affirmative determination. As a result of the Commission's negative determination, the investigation concerning Japan will end.

With respect to Austria, Russia, and Venezuela, Chairman Koplan, Vice Chairman Okun, and Commissioners Miller, Hillman, and Askey made findings of negligibility; Commissioner Bragg made affirmative threat determinations. 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 the Commission's negligibility findings, the investigations concerning Austria, Russia, and Venezuela will end.

The Commission's public report Certain Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars from Austria, Belarus, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and Venezuela (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-872-883 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3343, August 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after September 11, 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: Steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) is principally for reinforcement and crack-control of concrete. These investigations cover all deformed steel concrete reinforcing bars, sold in straight lengths, and classifiable under HTS subheading 7214.20.00 or any other subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. However, plain-round rebar and rebar that has been further processed through bending or coating are specifically excluded.

Status of Proceedings:
1.    Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping.
2.    Petitioners:  The Rebar Trade Action Coalition (Washington, DC) and its individual
      members AmeriSteel (Tampa, FL); Auburn Steel Co., Inc. (Auburn, NY)(1); Birmingham Steel Corp.
      (Birmingham, AL); Border Steel, Inc. (El Paso, TX); CMC Steel Group (Seguin, TX); Marion Steel
      Co. (Marion, OH); Nucor Steel (Darlington, SC); and Riverview Steel (Glassport, PA).
3.    Investigations instituted by USITC:  June 28, 2000.
4.    Conference:  July 19, 2000.
5.    USITC vote and determination to Department of Commerce:  August 14, 2000.
6.    USITC report to Department of Commerce:  August 21, 2000.

Regional U.S. Industry:(2)
1.    Number of domestic producers in 1999:  11.
2.    Location of producers' plants:  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, New
      Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
3.    Employment of production and related workers in 1999:  3,154.
4.    U.S. producers' regional shipments in 1999:  3,742,695 short tons.
5.    U.S. regional consumption, 1999:  5,502,466 short tons.
6.    Ratio of quantity of imports from all sources to U.S. regional consumption in 1999:  28.5 percent.
7.    Ratio of quantity of subject imports to U.S. regional consumption in 1999:  24.1 percent.

Regional U.S. Imports:
1.    Quantity of subject imports in 1999:  1,327,127 short tons.
2.    Value of subject imports in 1999:  $273,087,000.

(1) Auburn Steel is not a petitioner with respect to Indonesia and Japan.
(2) The region identified by petitioners consists of 30 states (all states east of the Mississippi River plus Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas) as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.