The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that an industry in the United States is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain structural steel beams from China, Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and Taiwan that the 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 and Stephen Koplan voted in the negative. Commissioner Lynn M. Bragg voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's negative determinations, no antidumping duty orders will be issued.

The Commission's public report Certain Structural Steel Beams from China, Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and Taiwan (Invs. Nos. 731-TA-935-936 and 938-942 (Final), USITC Publication 3522, June 2002) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after July 16, 2002, 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: Structural steel beams are principally load-bearing support members for a wide range of construction, original equipment manufacturing, and other applications. Beams subject to these investigations are distinguished by doubly symmetric cross-sections, with at least one cross-sectional dimension of 3.2 inches or more but a section height (depth) not in excess of 40 inches, and weighing not more than 400 pounds per foot of length. These beams are of carbon or alloy (other than stainless) steel, whether hot- or cold-rolled, drawn, extruded, formed, or finished. Subject products include, but are not limited to, wide-flange beams, bearing or H-piles, standard or I-beams, M-shapes, doubly symmetric forklift mast profiles, guardrail posts, trailer cross-members, and manufactured-housing beams.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigations:  Final antidumping.
2.   Petitioners:  Committee for Fair Beam Imports (Washington, DC) and individual members
      Northwestern Steel & Wire Co. (Sterling, IL) (1), Nucor Corp. (Charlotte, NC), Nucor-Yamato
      Steel Co. (Blytheville, AR), and TXI-Chaparral Steel Co. (Midlothian, TX).
3.   Investigations instituted by USITC:  May 23, 2001.
4.   Hearing:  May 15, 2002.
5.   USITC vote:  June 17, 2002.
6.   Scheduled date for USITC views and determinations to Department of Commerce:  June 28, 2002.

U.S. Industry:

1.   Number of domestic producers in 2001:  10.
2.   Location of producers' plants:  Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,
      Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
3.   Employment of production and related workers in 2001:  3,361.
4.   U.S. producers' U.S. shipments in 2001:  4,348,417 short tons ($1.5 billion).
5.   U.S. consumption, 2001:  4,813,262 short tons ($1.6 billion).
6.   Ratio of quantity of imports from all sources to U.S. consumption in 2001:  9.7 percent.
7.   Ratio of quantity of subject imports to U.S. consumption in 2001:  6.2 percent.

U.S. Imports:

1.   Quantity of subject imports in 2001:  300,150 short tons.
2.   Value of subject imports in 2001:  $93.1 million.

(1) Northwestern, which shut down in May 2001, was a petitioner in the preliminary phase.