This action, which could possibly be enforced by early next year, would come on the heels of anti-dumping duties imposed recently on imports of hot rolled coils (HRC), under the garb of protecting American markets. Anti-dumping duty imposed on hot-rolled coil manufacturers has adversely affected companies like Essar Steel, which is a major exporter of HR coils. Investigations are already on against cold-rolled steel imports in the US.

The US ITC has, in its study, found that various steel items such as steel slabs, hot-rolled sheets, cold-rolled sheets, hot rolled bar and eight other products, that are imported from foreign countries into the US, have had a damaging impact on the domestic US steel industry. It says that about 80 per cent of the American steel industry is adversely affected and seeks remedies for their safety. The US president, compelled by the economic slowdown, is expected to take punitive action under section 201 0f the US trade law for safeguarding domestic interests. Action could be either duty restrictions or quota restrictions.

However, there is still some hope for Indian manufacturers. The antidumping duty will be imposed only after hearing briefs on remedies on 29 October and in the first week of November. The US imports about 34 million tonnes of steel for domestic consumption from countries like China, India, Brazil, Ukraine and the European Union. India exports about 0.90 million tonnes of steel annually to the US.