U.S. Steel Grating Producers File Antidumping, CVD Cases against China

Today, Alabama Metal Industries Corp. (AMICO) and Fisher & Ludlow filed antidumping and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions against steel grating imported from the People's Republic of China.  The petitions, filed at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, allege that the domestic industry and its workers have been materially injured due to dumped and subsidized Chinese imports.

The petitions allege that Chinese producers are dumping steel grating in the United States at antidumping margins of more than 90%, and that Chinese producers are also benefiting from a wide variety of subsidies granted by the Chinese government. 

"Chinese steel grating producers have surged into the United States and flooded the market," said Alan Price, partner at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington DC, and counsel to the petitioning domestic producers.  "These dumped and subsidized Chinese imports are harming the U.S. industry and its workers." 

Chinese imports of steel grating have skyrocketed more than 500% in the last two years, increasing from 9.3 million kilograms in 2006 to 59.6 million kilograms in 2008.  During the same time, China's share of all steel grating imports into the United States has risen from 25% in 2006 to more than 80%, and China has captured substantial market share from U.S. producers as a result.

The Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission will begin reviewing the petitions immediately and are expected to initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations shortly. 

Steel grating is a steel product that is used to support and distribute weight in a variety of settings, including subway and pedestrian walkways, catwalks, fire escape platforms, stairways and flooring.

AMICO and Fisher & Ludlow have manufacturing operations across the United States and Canada, including in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.