For Immediate Release: September 29, 2008
Contact: Brittany Eck  (202) 482-3809

US SIGNS MARKET ECONOMY SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
ON CUT-TO-LENGTH STEEL PLATE FROM UKRAINE

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today signed a new, market-economy-based suspension agreement with representatives of three Ukrainian cut-to-length steel plate (CTL plate) producers that account for a substantial majority of the country’s exports to the United States. The new agreement is effective Nov. 1, 2008, the date that the export limits under the non-market economy agreement expire.

“This agreement continues to provide for stability and fairness in steel trade with Ukraine while recognizing Ukraine’s impressive transition to a full-fledged market economy,” said Assistant Secretary for Import Administration David Spooner. “We appreciate the U.S. and Ukrainian industries’ constructive participation in reaching this new agreement.”

Commerce entered into a non-market economy suspension agreement with the Government of Ukraine that suspended an antidumping duty investigation on CTL plate effective Oct. 24, 1997. In February 2006, Commerce revoked Ukraine’s status as a non-market economy country under section 771(18)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. Based on a request by certain Ukrainian CTL plate producers, Commerce agreed to work with those producers to convert the non-market economy suspension agreement to a market economy agreement.

Commerce will continue to work with Ukrainian CTL plate producers to ensure a smooth transition under the new agreement and to actively monitor its compliance. For more information, please visit www.trade.gov.

# # #