The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Mar. 20 that domestic steel fabricators were being harmed by imports of fabricated structural steel from Canada, China and Mexico. That means an investigation will continue into whether the three countries’ imports are harming U.S.-based fabricators, which could result in anti-dumping duties placed on structural steel products used by U.S. contractors.
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) asked the U.S. Commerce Dept. for anti-dumping or countervailing duties of 31.46% for Canada, 41.39% for Mexico and a whopping 218.95% for China. The trade group notes the long decision-making process, but says it would have filed this action with or without tariffs the Trump administration has placed on raw steel and aluminum coming into the U.S. Commerce usually rules on such petitions 11 months from the filing date.