The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a surge in U.S. imports of certain steel wire rod from Canada and Mexico is undermining the effectiveness of the import relief on certain steel wire rod that was provided to the U.S. industry by the President in February 2000.

Chairman Stephen Koplan and Commissioners Lynn M. Bragg, Marcia E. Miller, and Dennis M. Devaney voted in the affirmative on both countries. Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun and Commissioner Jennifer A. Hillman voted in the negative on both countries.

Imports from Canada and Mexico were not included in the relief provided by the President following the Commission's 1999 global safeguard investigation on certain steel wire rod. Presidential Proclamation 7273, issued on February 16, 2000 (65 FR 8624, February 18, 2000), details the relief provided and provides a specific definition of the covered products. Section 312(c) of the NAFTA Implementation Act authorizes the President at a later time to include imports from Canada and Mexico in the relief if he determines that a surge in these imports undermines the effectiveness of the relief.

The Commission's determination today is the result of an investigation requested on July 24, 2001, by the U.S. industry under section 312(c) of the NAFTA Implementation Act to determine whether surges in imports of these products from Canada and/or Mexico are undermining the import relief program. The Commission will forward its findings in this investigation to the President by August 23, 2001, and its views by September 7, 2001. The President will make the final decision on whether to extend the import relief to imports from Canada and Mexico.

A public report concerning the investigation will be available after the Commission submits its findings to the President.