The Ministry of International Trade and Industry may pursue Japan's steel-trade dispute with the United States at the World Trade Organization, a MITI official Monday quoted trade chief Takashi Fukaya as telling the Japanese steel industry. During an hourlong meeting with representatives of the industry, Fukaya said MITI is studying whether to file complaints with the WTO over Washington's antidumping measures on items other than hot-rolled steel, the official said. Eleven steel import items have been subject to Washington's dumping investigations since 1997, and the U.S. International Trade Commission has ruled against three of the 11 items. Questioning Washington's assessment of dumping margins and of degrees of damage caused by Japanese imports to the U.S. domestic industry, Tokyo will enter bilateral consultations Jan. 13 with Washington under the auspices of the WTO to solve the problem concerning hot-rolled steel. Regarding Fukaya's comment on other items, the MITI official cited steel plates and cold-rolled steel as candidates, saying the ministry will determine whether to file another complaint with the WTO after the ITC makes a final judgment on steel plates next month.
