November 2, 2018
News Release 18-135
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-672-673 (Fourth Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Silicomanganese from China and Ukraine

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of silicomanganese from China and Ukraine would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China and Ukraine will remain in place. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.  Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative with respect to Ukraine and the negative with respect to China.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Silicomanganese from China and Ukraine (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-672-673 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 4845, November 2018) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by December 7, 2018; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.


BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information.  Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review.  If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Silicomanganese from China and Ukraine were instituted on October 2, 2017.

On January 5, 2018, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews. With respect to China, Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, David S. Johanson, Irving A. Williamson, and Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review.  With respect to Ukraine, Commissioners Schmidtlein, Johanson, Williamson, and Broadbent concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group response were adequate and voted for a full review.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct full reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

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