The US Department of Commerce (USDOC) issued a preliminary affirmative countervailing duty (CVD) determination against Algerian exporters of carbon and alloy steel wire rod.

For the probe period spanning from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, the authority calculated a 73.33% estimated subsidy rate for the sole mandatory respondent, SPA Algerian Qatar Steel (AQS), as well as all other Algerian producers.

The USDOC applied adverse inferences based on available facts because AQS skipped the investigation and the Algerian government withheld requested data. Consequently, the authority would not conduct verifications.

Furthermore, this investigation bypasses a material injury review by the US International Trade Commission (ITC). The United States Trade Representative has determined that Algeria is not a Subsidies Agreement country, eliminating the legal requirement for injury findings.