On December 21, the Department of Commerce announced its preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations on imports of Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Korea. We preliminarily find that producers/exporters have sold diamond sawblades in the U.S. market at less than fair value from the PRC, with margins ranging from 0.11 percent to 164.09 percent and from the Republic of Korea, with margins ranging from 6.15 percent to 11.25 percent. As a result of these preliminary determinations, the Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise and to collect a bond or cash deposit based on the preliminary margins.

Next Steps: The Department will consider all submitted comments from interested parties along with other record evidence before making its final determination in May 2006. If the Department makes a final determination that imports were sold below fair value in these investigations, and the International Trade Commission (ITC) makes a final affirmative determination that imports from the Republic of Korea and PRC materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, the Department will issue antidumping duty orders and instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits on imports of subject merchandise.

Petitioners: The petition requesting these investigations was filed by the Diamond Sawblade Manufacturers' Coalition, an ad hoc trade association, as well as its individual members: Blackhawk Diamond, Inc. (CA), Diamond B, Inc. (CA), Diamond Products (OH), Dixie Diamond (GA), Hoffman Diamond (PA), Hyde Manufacturing (MA), Sanders Saws (PA), Terra Diamond (UT), and Western Saw, Inc. (CA).

Product Description: The products covered by these investigations are all finished circular sawblades, whether slotted or not, with a working part that is comprised of a diamond segment or segments, and parts thereof, regardless of specification or size, except as specifically excluded below. Within the scope of these investigations are semifinished diamond sawblades, including diamond sawblade cores and diamond sawblade segments. Diamond sawblade cores are circular steel plates, whether or not attached to non-steel plates, with slots. Diamond sawblade cores are manufactured principally, but not exclusively, from alloy steel. A diamond sawblade segment consists of a mixture of diamonds (whether natural or synthetic, and regardless of the quantity of diamonds) and metal powders (including, but not limited to, iron, cobalt, nickel, tungsten carbide) that are formed together into a solid shape (from generally, but not limited to, a heating and pressing process).

Sawblades with diamonds directly attached to the core with a resin or electroplated bond, which thereby do not contain a diamond segment, are not included within the scope of the investigation. Diamond sawblades and/or sawblade cores with a thickness of less than 0.025 inches, or with a thickness greater than 1.1 inches, are excluded from the scope of the investigations. Circular steel plates that have a cutting edge of non-diamond material, such as external teeth that protrude from the outer diameter of the plate, whether or not finished, are excluded from the scope of the investigations. Diamond sawblade cores with a Rockwell C hardness of less than 25 are excluded from the scope of the investigations. Diamond sawblades and/or diamond segment(s) with diamonds that predominantly have a mesh size number greater than 240 (such as 250 or 260) are excluded from the scope of the investigations.

Merchandise subject to these investigations is typically imported under heading 8202.39.00.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). When packaged together as a set for retail sale with an item that is separately classified under headings 8202 to 8205 of the HTSUS, diamond sawblades or parts thereof may be imported under heading 8206.00.00.00 of the HTSUS. The tariff classification is provided for convenience and U.S. Customs and Border Protection purposes; however, the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.

Preliminary Dumping Margins:

Case Calendar:

* This will take place only in the event of a final affirmative determination from the Department of Commerce.

** This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determinations by both the Department and the ITC.

Import Statistics:

Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Dataweb