The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain cold-rolled carbon steel flat products from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value, and those from Argentina, Brazil, France, and Korea that are also allegedly subsidized.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its countervailing duty investigation of imports of certain cold-rolled carbon steel flat products from Argentina, Brazil, France, and Korea, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about December 24, 2001, and its antidumping investigations on imports of these products from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela, with its preliminary antidumping determinations due on or about March 7, 2002.

The Commission's public report Certain Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela (Investigations Nos. 701-TA-422-425 and 731-TA-964-983 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3471, November 2001) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after December 11, 2001, 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 certain cold-rolled (cold-reduced) carbon-quality steel flat products, neither clad, plated, nor coated with metal, whether or not annealed, painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances, both in coils and in straight lengths.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations: Preliminary countervailing duty and preliminary antidumping.(1)
2.  Petitioners: Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem, PA; LTV Steel Co., Inc., Cleveland, OH;
       National Steel Corp., Mishawaka, IN(2); Nucor Corp.  Charlotte, NC; Steel Dynamics, Inc., 
       Butler, IN; United States Steel LLC, Pittsburgh, PA; WCI Steel, Inc., Warren, OH; and 
       Weirton Steel Corp. Weirton, WV(3).
3.  Investigations instituted by the USITC: September 28, 2001.
4.  USITC conference: October 19, 2001.
5.  USITC vote and notification of the U.S. Department of Commerce: November 13, 2001.
  
U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers of cold-rolled steel products:  25.
2.  Location of producers' plants:  Production is primarily in Alabama, Arkansas, California,
       Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
       Carolina, and West Virginia.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2000: 27,225.
4.  U.S. producers' U.S. shipments (excluding exports)  in 2000:
       Including captive consumption, 36,935,351 short tons (valued at $15.4 billion).
       Open market shipments, 14,749,414 short tons (valued at $6.5 billion).
5.  U.S. apparent consumption in 2000:
       Including captive consumption, 39,791,876 (valued at $16.7 billion).
       Open market consumption, 17,605,939 short tons (valued at $7.8 billion).
6.  Ratio of quantity of subject imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 2000:
       Including captive consumption, 5.1 percent.
       Open market shipments, 11.6 percent.

U.S. Imports in 2000:

1.  From the subject countries: 2,046,297 short tons, $959 million.
2.  From countries not subject to investigation: 810,228 short tons, $355 million.

(2) National is not a petitioner with respect to Japan.

(3) Weirton is not a petitioner with respect to the Netherlands.