Mexico Welded Wire Mesh: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on stainless steel welded wire mesh from Mexico (A-201-853/C-201-854). The agency will determine whether imports of Mexican welded wire mesh are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value or are illegally subsidized. The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2019. The AD duty investigation covers entries April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020.

The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized stainless steel welded wire mesh from Mexico are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due Aug. 14, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, due in September for CV duties and December for AD duties, it will set AD and/or CV duty cash deposit requirements for imports of merchandise subject to the investigation. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will issue an AD and/or CV duty order making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CV duties on importers and potentially change AD/CV duty cash deposit rates.

AD/CVD Respondent Selection

Commerce said it will pick respondents for its AD duty investigations based on CBP import data.

Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations

The scope of this investigation covers uncoated standard welded steel reinforcement wire mesh (wire mesh) produced from smooth or deformed wire. Subject wire mesh is produced in square and rectangular grids of uniformly spaced steel wires that are welded at all intersections. Sizes are specified by combining the spacing of the wires in inches or millimeters and the wire cross-sectional area in hundredths of square inch or millimeters squared. Subject wire mesh may be packaged and sold in rolls or in sheets.

Subject wire mesh is currently produced to ASTM specification A1064/A1064M, which covers carbon-steel wire and welded wire reinforcement, smooth and deformed, for concrete in the following seven styles:

1. 6X6 W1.4/W1.4 or D1.4/D1.4

2. 6X6 W2.1/W2.1 or D2.1/D2.1

3. 6X6 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9

4. 6X6 W4/W4 or D4/D4

5. 6X12 W4/W4 or D4/D4

6. 4X4 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9

7. 4X4 W4/W4 or D4/D4

The first number in the style denotes the nominal spacing between the longitudinal wires and the second number denotes the nominal spacing between the transverse wires. In the first style listed above, for example, “6X6” denotes a grid size of six inches by six inches. “W” denotes the use of smooth wire, and “D” denotes the use of deformed wire in making the mesh. The number following the W or D denotes the nominal cross-sectional area of the transverse and longitudinal wires in hundredths of a square inch (i.e., W1.4 or D1.4 is .014 square inches).

Smooth wire is wire that has a uniform cross-sectional diameter throughout the length of the wire.

Deformed wire is wire with indentations or raised transverse ribs, which results in wire that does not have a uniform cross-sectional diameter throughout the length of the wire.

Rolls of subject wire mesh are produced in the following styles and nominal width and length combinations:

Style: 6X6 W1.4/W1.4 or D1.4/D1.4 (i.e., 10 gauge)

• Roll Sizes: 5' X 50'; 5' X 150'; 6' X 150'; 5' X 200'; 7' X 200'; or 7.5' X 200'

Style: 6X6 W2.1/W2.1 or D2.1/D2.1 (i.e., 8 gauge)

• Roll Sizes: 5' X 150'

Style: 6X6 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)

• Roll Sizes: 5' X 150'; or 7' X 200'

All rolled wire mesh is included in scope regardless of length.

Sheets of subject wire mesh are produced in the following styles and nominal width and length combinations:

Style: 6X6 W1.4/W1.4 or D1.4/D1.4 (i.e., 10 gauge)

• Sheet Size: 3'6" X 7'; 4' X 7'; 4' X 7'6"; 5' X 10'; 7' X 20'; 7'6" X 20'; 8' X 12'6"; 8' X 15'; or 8' X 20'

Style: 6X6 W2.1/W2.1 or D2.1/D2.1 (i.e., 8 gauge)

• Sheet Size: 5' X 10'; 7' X 20'; 7'6" X 20'; 8' X 12'6"; 8' X 15'; or 8' X 20'

Style: 6X6 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)

• Sheet Size: 3'6" X 20'; 5' X 10'; 7' X 20'; 7'6" X 20'; 8' X 12'6"; 8' X 15'; or 8' X 20'

Style: 6X12 W4/W4 or D4/D4 (i.e., 4 gauge)

• Sheet Size: 8' X 20'

Style: 4X4 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)

• Sheet Size: 5' X 10'; 7' X 20'; 7'6" X 20'; 8' X 12'6"; 8' X 12'8"; 8' X 15'; or 8' X 20'

Style: 4X4 W4/W4 or D4/D4 (i.e., 4 gauge)

• Sheet Size: 5' X 10'; 8' X 12'6"; 8' X 12'8"; 8' X 15'; or 8' X 20'

Any product imported, sold, or invoiced in one of these size combinations is within the scope.

ASTM specification A1064/A1064M provides for permissible variations in wire gauges, the spacing between transverse and longitudinal wires, and the length and width combinations. To the extent a roll or sheet of welded wire mesh falls within these permissible variations, it is within this scope.

ASTM specification A1064/A1064M also defines permissible oversteeling, which is the use of a heavier gauge wire with a larger cross-sectional area than nominally specified. It also permits a wire diameter tolerance of ± 0.003 inches for products up to W5/D5 and ± 0.004 for sizes over W5/D5. A producer may oversteel by increasing smooth or deformed wire diameter up to two whole number size increments on Table 1 of A1064. Subject wire mesh has the following actual wire diameter ranges, which account for both oversteeling and diameter tolerance:

To the extent a roll or sheet of welded wire mesh falls within the permissible variations provided above, it is within this scope.

In addition to the tolerances permitted in ASTM specification A1064/A1064M, wire mesh within this scope includes combinations where:

1. A width and/or length combination varies by + one grid size in any direction, i.e., + 6 inches in length or width where the wire mesh's grid size is “6X6”; and/or

2. The center-to-center spacing between individual wires may vary by up to one quarter of an inch from the nominal grid size specified.

Length is measured from the ends of any wire and width is measured between the center-line of end longitudinal wires.

Additionally, although the subject wire mesh typically meets ASTM A1064/A1064M, the failure to include certifications, test reports or other documentation establishing that the product meets this specification does not remove the product from the scope. Wire mesh made to comparable foreign specifications (e.g., DIN, JIS, etc.) or proprietary specifications is included in the scope.

Excluded from the scope is wire mesh that is galvanized (i.e., coated with zinc) or coated with an epoxy coating. In order to be excluded as galvanized, the excluded welded wire mesh must have a zinc coating thickness meeting the requirements of ASTM specification A641/A641M. Epoxy coating is a mix of epoxy resin and hardener that can be applied to the surface of steel wire.

Merchandise subject to this investigation is classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) categories 7314.20.0000 and 7314.39.0000. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Participants in the AD/CVD investigations may submit comments on product coverage under the scope of the investigations. Comments on the scope are due by Aug. 10.

Investigations Timetable

*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.

†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.

‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.

+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.

The AD duty initiation notice is (here). The CV duty initiation notice is (here). The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).