Thailand's government has announced its decision to extend the existing antidumping duties for 5 years on imports of HR sheets and heavy plates from 14 nations including Japan after a sunset review of the AD duties.

The Japan Iron & Steel Federation reacted May 26th 2009 with its comments to the following effect.

1. Most of the HR sheet imports into Thailand from Japan are high-grade products that apply to production of CR sheets for supplies to Japanese-affiliated and local companies. Therefore, it is obvious that those imports will cause no continued or recurred injury to Thailand's domestic industry even if the AD duties are revoked.

2. It is really regrettable that the Thai government has decided to extend the AD duties, a decision that amounts to an inappropriate one.

3. According to the Thai government's announcement this time, exempt from the AD duties are HR sheets for CR sheets to be supplied to local manufacturing industries such as autos and consumer electronics. Still, there are fears of an adverse effect from the continued AD duties on Thailand's industrial circles.

4. On its part, the Japanese steel industry is contemplating studying how to respond after a scrutiny into details of the Thai government's decision and deliberations with the Japanese government.

In July 2002, the Thai government started its AD investigation into imports of HR sheets and heavy plates from the 14 nations. In May 2003, the investigation concluded that the imports had injured domestic steel mills, which led to AD duty impositions. Then, the Thai government conducted a sunset review of the AD duties after five years of their execution.

As far as Japan's integrated steelmakers are concerned, Nippon Steel Corp is subject to an AD duty of 0%, JFE Steel Corp to that of 3.22%, and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd and Kobe Steel Ltd to that of 36.25% each in the extended Thai AD duties. In the case of JFE Steel, the company has the application filed for a review of the AD duty.

(Sourced from TEX Report Limited)