Vulcan Steel Products Inc. filed a petition on February 21 with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission seeking antidumping duties (ADD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod from China, India, Taiwan and Thailand, TH International Trade reports. Threaded rod imports from these countries are being sold at less than fair value in the U.S. and causing material injury, according to Vulcan.

From December 2017 to November 2018, U.S. threaded rod imports totaled 42.5% from China, 25.2% from India, 15.1% from Taiwan and 4.1% from Thailand, according to Vulcan. The company claims that imports of threaded rod from these countries increased 18.6% from 2016 to 2017 and that imports for 2018 represented a 18.8% increase over 2017, according to TH International Trade. As a result, Vulcan claims that dumped and subsidized threaded rod imports are having significant, negative price effects that are causing lost sales and revenue to the domestic industry.

The petition lists foreign producers and exporters that shipped threaded rod products to the U.S. at allegedly dumped and/or subsidized prices from these countries as well as the U.S. importers of those products.

The steel threaded rod, bar, or studs subject to these investigations are non-headed and threaded along greater than 25% of their total actual length. Steel threaded rod is normally produced to American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) specifications ASTM A36, ASTM A193 B7/B7m, ASTM A193 B16, ASTM A307, ASTM A320 L7/L7M, ASTM A320 L43, ASTM A354 BC and BD, ASTM A449, ASTM F1554-36, ASTM F1554-55, ASTM F1554 Grade 105, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (“ASME”) specification ASME B18.31.3, and American Petroleum Institute (“API”) specification API 20E.

Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished, assembled, or packaged in a third country, including by cutting, chamfering, coating, or painting the threaded rod, by attaching the threaded rod to, or packaging it with, another product, or any other finishing, assembly, or packaging operation that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the threaded rod.

Carbon and alloy steel threaded rod are also included in the scope of this investigation whether or not imported attached to, or in conjunction with, other parts and accessories such as nuts and washers. If carbon and alloy steel threaded rod are imported attached to, or in conjunction with, such non-subject merchandise, only the threaded rod is included in the scope.

Excluded from the scope of these investigations are: (1) threaded rod, bar, or studs which are threaded only on one or both ends and the threading covers 25% or less of the total actual length; and (2) stainless steel threaded rod, defined as steel threaded rod containing, by weight, 1.2% or less of carbon and 10.5% or more of chromium, with or without other elements.

Steel threaded rod is classifiable under subheadings 7318.15.5051, 7318.15.5056, and 7318.15.5090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). Subject merchandise may also enter under subheading 7318.15.2095 and 7318.19.0000 of the HTSUS.

Commerce will determine by March 12 whether to formally initiate the investigations.