The Japanese steel industry on Tuesday criticized a preliminary ruling by the U.S. Commerce Department that cold-rolled steel products from Japan and 19 other exporters are being dumped on the U.S. market.
The Japanese industry claims that the decision, coming on the heels of additional tariffs imposed in March on steel products under WTO-sanctioned emergency import restriction measures, unfairly restricts the trade of steel products.
"The reason the U.S. steel industry lost competitiveness is that it has not taken self-help measures," a senior official at a Japanese steelmaker said.