PERSPECTIVE: Antidumping Probe Continues On Chinese Threaded Rod

Jason Sandefur

The U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its antidumping investigation on imports of steel threaded rod from China following a determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission that there is “reasonable indication” that imports threaten the U.S. threaded rod industry. \
The investigation was undertaken after Pelham, AL-based Vulcan Threaded Products Inc. filed an antidumping petition against steel threaded rod from China in March. Estimated dumping margins for Chinese rod reportedly range from 36.17% to 659%.
The products under scrutiny includes steel threaded rod, bar, or studs that are non-headed and threaded along greater than 25% of their total length.
Excluded from the investigation are threaded rod, bar, or studs made to ASTM A193 Grade B7, ASTM A193 Grade B7M, ASTM A193 Grade B16, or ASTM A320 Grade L7; and any threaded rod, bar, or studs that are threaded only on one or both ends and the threading covers 25% or less of the total length.
Filed on March 5, 2008, the petition claims that from 2005 to 2007, imports of steel threaded rod from China increased 9.8% by volume and were valued at an estimated $72.3 million in 2007. This allowed Chinese producers to seize as much as two-thirds of the U.S. market, according to the Vulcan petition.
China has more than 400 threaded rod producers who service almost 300 U.S. importers of threaded rod.
Vulcan used 24 price quotes on three steel threaded rod products from China offered for sale to U.S. customers between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007.
Copies of the report are expected to be available after May 19, 2008, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, by calling 202-205-2000, or by writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104. �2008 FastenerNews.com