Final Determinations in the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations:
Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from
Brazil, India, Mexico, Republic of Korea and Thailand

On December 2, the Department of Commerce (the Department) announced the final determinations for the above-referenced investigations. We found that producers/exporters of prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from Brazil, India, Mexico, Republic of Korea (Korea), and Thailand sold their products in the United States at less than fair value and that countervailable subsidies exist with regard to exports from India. Also, the petitioners alleged critical circumstances existed with regard to exports from Mexico and Thailand. The Department determined that critical circumstances do not exist with regard to either country.

Background: On February 21, 2003, the Department announced the initiation of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from Brazil (AD), India (AD/CVD), the Republic of Korea (AD), Mexico (AD), and Thailand (AD). On March 17, the U.S. International Trade Commission preliminarily determined that there was a reasonable indication that imports of the products subject to these investigations are materially injuring an industry in the United States that produces the domestic like product.

On July 1, 2003, the Department of Commerce (the Department) announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the CVD investigation on imports of Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from India, finding a net subsidy rate of 62.92 percent . The Department also announced that the countervailing duty investigation had been aligned with the concurrent antidumping duty investigation. On July 10, 2003, the Department preliminarily determined that products from all five countries were sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Petitioners: The petition requesting these investigations was filed on January 31, by American Spring Wire Corp. (American Spring), (OH), Insteel Wire Products Company (Insteel), (NC) and Sumiden Wire Products Corp. (Sumiden), (TN).

Product Description: For purposes of these investigations, PC strand is steel strand produced from wire of non-stainless, non-galvanized steel, which is suitable for use in prestressed concrete (both pretensioned and post-tensioned) applications. The product definition encompasses covered and uncovered strand and all types, grades, and diameters of PC strand.

The merchandise under these investigations is currently classifiable under subheadings 7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and Customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under investigation is dispositive.