The US Commerce Department on Tuesday set final antidumping duties (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of steel gratings from China, a move which might escalate trade disputes between the two countries.
According to a PeopleDaily online report which quotes China’s Xinhua news agency, the US has set final anti-dumping duties of 136.76 to 145.18% on the steel product to offset below-market pricing.
The department also ruled that the Chinese producers/ exporters of steel gratings have received net countervailable subsidies of 62.46%.
Steel gratings consist of two or more cross-bracing pieces and are used in industrial floors, docks, ramps, drainage covers, staircases and other applications.
US imports of the steel gratings rose to US$90.6 million (NZ$133 million) in 2008, but fell back to $15.3 million dollars in 2009.
According to the US trade remedy procedure, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) will also make its final injury determination about the product soon.
