July 10, 2009
News Release 09-050
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-464 and 731-TA-1160 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its countervailing and antidumping duty investigations on imports of this product from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about August 20, 2009, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about November 3, 2009.

The Commission's public report Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-464 and 731-TA-1160 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4086, July 2009) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after August 10, 2009, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) consists of multiple steel wires wound together to produce a strong, flexible product that is used to impart compressive forces into concrete structures in order to strengthen them. PC strand is commonly available in three grades, in covered and uncovered form, and in several nominal diameters. The most common PC strand configuration consists of six wires wound helically around a single wire core. PC strand may be sold coated (plastic or epoxy) or uncoated and may be used in pre- and post-tensioning applications. Typical applications of prestressed concrete (and thereby PC strand) include bridge decks, bridge girders, pilings, precast concrete panels and structural supports, roof trusses, floor supports, and certain concrete foundations.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioners:  American Spring Wire Corp., Bedford Heights, OH; Insteel Wire Products Co.,
       Mt. Airy, NC; and Sumiden Wire Products Corp., Dickson, TN.
3.  Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  May 27, 2009.
4.  Commission's conference:  June 17, 2009.
5.  USITC vote:  July 10, 2009.
6.  USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  July 13, 2009.
7.  USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  July 20, 2009.


U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers in 2008:  Five.
2.  Locations of producers' plants:  California, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, South Carolina,
       Tennessee and Texas.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2008:  331.
4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 2008:  $550.5 million.
5.  Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2008:  39.2 percent.


U.S. Imports:

1.  From China during 2008:  $194.3 million.
2.  From other countries during 2008:  $21.8 million.
3.  Leading sources during 2008:  China and Canada (in terms of total value).