Korea asks for dispute panel establishment

Findings of antidumping and countervailing duties investigations called out.

   The Republic of Korea has requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel in regard to several antidumping and countervailing investigations.
   The U.S. Trade Representative said comments are welcome and should be submitted on or before July 16 for timely consideration.
   Korea requested the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel regarding the use by the U.S. Department of Commerce of facts available in various segments of the investigation of products from the Republic of Korea:
    • Antidumping duties on certain corrosion-resistant steel products;
    • Antidumping and countervailing duties on certain cold-rolled steel flat products;
    • Antidumping and countervailing duties on certain hot-rolled steel flat products;
    • And antidumping duties on large power transformers.
   Korea alleges that the challenged measures are inconsistent with U.S. WTO obligations in the Anti-Dumping Agreement and Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Korea further alleges that the United States failed to comply with a number of supposedly related procedural and substantive obligations under the agreements.
   Korea also challenges Commerce’s “use of adverse facts available.”