New Countervailing Duty Petition on Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Algeria

At a Glance

• Charter Steel, Commercial Metals Company, Liberty Steel USA, Nucor Corporation, and Optimus Steel, LLC, filed a countervailing duty petition on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Algeria.
• An investigation related to this petition could result in increased prices and/or decreased supply of carbon and alloy steel wire rod.
• The US Department of Commerce is expected to begin investigation on April 27, 2026.

On April 6, 2026, a countervailing duty petition was filed on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Algeria. The petition was filed by Charter Steel, Commercial Metals Company, Liberty Steel USA, Nucor Corporation, and Optimus Steel, LLC.

The US CVD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States with the benefit of foreign government subsidies. For CVD duties to be imposed, the US government must determine that subsidization is occurring. In most cases, the US government must also determine that the domestic industry is materially injured by the subject imports, but this CVD case is an exception to the usual rule because the country involved (Algeria) is not a member of the World Trade Organization. Importers are liable for any potential CVD duties imposed. In addition, this investigation could impact purchasers by increasing prices and/or decreasing supply of carbon and alloy steel wire rod.

Scope

Please note that this section was not written by our authors but is taken verbatim from the petition.

The merchandise subject to this order covers certain hot-rolled products of carbon steel and alloy steel, in coils, of approximately circular cross section, less than 19.00 mm in actual solid cross-sectional diameter. Specifically excluded are steel products possessing the above-noted physical characteristics and meeting the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) definitions for (a) stainless steel; (b) tool steel; (c) high nickel steel; (d) ball bearing steel; or (e) concrete reinforcing bars and rods. Also excluded are free cutting steel (also known as free machining steel) products (i.e., products that contain by weight one or more of the following elements: 0.1 percent or more of lead, 0.05 percent or more of bismuth, 0.08 percent or more of sulfur, more than 0.04 percent of phosphorus, more than 0.05 percent of selenium, or more than 0.01 percent of tellurium). All products meeting the physical description of subject merchandise that are not specifically excluded are included in this scope.

The products under order are currently classifiable under subheadings 7213.91.3011, 7213.91.3015, 7213.91.3020, 7213.91.3093; 7213.91.4500, 7213.91.6000, 7213.99.0030, 7227.20.0030, 7227.20.0080, 7227.90.6010, 7227.90.6020, 7227.90.6030, and 7227.90.6035 of the HTSUS. Products entered under subheadings 7213.99.0090 and 7227.90.6090 of the HTSUS also may be included in this scope if they meet the physical description of subject merchandise above. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.

Estimated Dumping Margins

The petitioners allege numerous subsidies, but the CVD petition does not quantify the alleged net subsidy margins.

Estimated Schedule of Investigations

The following is an estimated schedule of investigations by the US Department of Commerce (DOC):