US opens anti-dumping probe

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters): The US Commerce Department announced Tuesday it will open a new anti-dumping probe to determine whether fabricated structural steel from Canada, China and Mexico is being sold at below fair value.

The investigation comes as some US lawmakers, car companies and Canada and Mexico have strongly urged the Trump administration to drop US national security tariffs on steel and aluminum imports in the wake of a deal announced last year to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The fabricated structural steel under investigation is used major building projects, including commercial, office and residential buildings, arenas, convention centres, parking decks and ports.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday the new anti-dumping and countervailing duty probe is based on a petition filed earlier this month by a US steel trade group. The department is investigating whether to seek duties of about 30 per cent for Canada and Mexico and 222 per cent for China in response to below-market price imports.

The Commerce Department said final determinations for the probe are expected by the end of September.

In 2017, imports of fabricated structural steel from Canada, China, and Mexico were valued at an estimated $658.3 million, $841.7 million, and $406.6 million, respectively. A preliminary determination on the issue is due from the International Trade Commission by March 21.