The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that revoking the existing countervailing duty order on imports of grain-oriented silicon electrical steel from Italy and the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Italy and Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the exisiting countervailing duty and antidumping duty orders on imports of grain-oriented silicon electrical steel from Italy and Japan will remain in place.

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

Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission's public report Grain-Oriented Silicon Electrical Steel from Italy and Japan (Invs. Nos. 701-TA-355 and 731-TA-659-660 (Review), USITC Publication 3396, February 2001) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after March 15, 2001, by calling 202-205-1809 or by contacting the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (ITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the ITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury determination, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Grain-Oriented Silicon Electrical Steel from Italy and Japan were instituted on December 1, 1999.

On March 3, 2000, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, Thelma J. Askey, and Deanna Tanner Okun concluded that both the domestic and the respondent group responses were adequate and voted for full reviews.

Information concerning the Commission's vote to conduct full reviews was published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2000. That notice and a record of the Commission's votes are posted on the ITC's Internet site at www.usitc.gov (under "Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews"/"Grain-Oriented Silicon Electrical Steel from Italy (AD)," "Grain-Oriented Silicon Electrical Steel from Italy (CVD)," and "Grain-Oriented Silicon Electrical Steel from Japan").

In addition, a record of the Commission's votes is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.