September 4, 2002
International trade partner Kenneth Pierce interviewed by numerous national publications on the outcome of a controversial International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling, rejecting the U.S. steel industry’s request for steep new anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled steel imports from Australia, Sweden, Japan, Thailand and India.
International trade partner Kenneth J. Pierce was recently interviewed by numerous national publications on the outcome of a controversial International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling, rejecting the U.S. steel industry’s request for steep new anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled steel imports from Australia, Sweden, Japan, Thailand and India. The ITC is also expected to rule on a similar complaint brought against fifteen additional countries in October. Mr. Pierce, who is noted as lead counsel for 17 of the 20 countries charged with selling steel products in the U.S. at artificially low prices, told Reuters that “the fact that cold-rolled steel is already subject to a 30 percent tariff under President Bush's safeguard duties was undoubtedly an important reason that four commissioners voted against anti-dumping duties.” Prior to the ITC’s ruling, he told The Wall Street Journal (“Trade Commission May Grant New Protections to Steelmakers,” 8/27/02) that for the domestic industry to claim injury is “irrational” and that he does not believe they have a case. Mr. Pierce told the American Metal Market (“ITC Gives Cold Shoulder to Industry Injury Claim,” 8/28/02) that he was confident the foreign respondents would prevail as long as the ITC focused on the merits of the case. Mr. Pierce is a partner in Willkie’s International Trade Department, specializing in the full range of U.S. unfair trade actions, such as antidumping and countervailing duty, and Sections 301 and 201 actions.