The US Department of Commerce signed a new, market economy based suspension agreement with representatives of three Ukrainian cut to length steel plate producers that account for a substantial majority of the country’s exports to the United States. The new agreement is effective November 1st 2008, the date that the export limits under the non-market economy agreement expire.

Mr David Spooner Assistant Secretary for Import Administration said that “This agreement continues to provide for stability and fairness in steel trade with Ukraine while recognizing Ukraine’s impressive transition to a full fledged market economy. We appreciate the US and Ukrainian industries’ constructive participation in reaching this new agreement.”

Commerce entered into a non market economy suspension agreement with the Government of Ukraine that suspended an antidumping duty investigation on CTL plate effective October 24th 1997. In February 2006, Commerce revoked Ukraine’s status as a non-market economy country under section 771(18)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930 as amended. Based on a request by certain Ukrainian CTL plate producers, Commerce agreed to work with those producers to convert the non-market economy suspension agreement to a market economy agreement.

Commerce will continue to work with Ukrainian CTL plate producers to ensure a smooth transition under the new agreement and to actively monitor its compliance.