U.S. Charges Japan With Dumping Disks

WASHINGTON — The Commerce Department ruled Tuesday that Japan was “dumping” microdisks in the United States at less than fair value, paving the way for imposing anti-dumping duties on the shipments.

The department said Japanese firms were selling the 3 1/2-inch microdisks, used to record and store computer information, at up to 51% less than fair value.

It said duties to compensate for the dumping margins would be imposed if the U.S. International Trade Commission found that the imports had materially injured American companies.

The ITC, an independent body that monitors compliance with U.S. trade law, has 45 days to act. It already had issued a provisional finding of injury.

Firms cited by the department were Sony Corp., for selling disks at 51% under fair value; Fuji Photo Film Co., 50.52%, and Hitachi Maxell Ltd., 27.73%.

The department said $137.6 million of the microdisks were sold in the United States in 1987, the most recent year for which figures were available.

It also announced that it has ruled that Thailand was selling subsidized malleable iron pipe fittings in the United States and that it had imposed countervailing duties on the fittings to offset the subsidy.

The department said the subsidy on the fittings, used in the construction industry, was 2.94%.

It said no ITC finding of injury was required because Thailand was not a member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which governs offsetting duties for dumped and subsidized exports.

Thailand shipped about $7.8 million of the pipe fittings to the United States last year, the department said.