The U.S. International Trade Commission, in a reversal of its preliminary decision, ruled Friday that cold-rolled steel imported from Japan and five other countries is not hurting U.S. industry.
The five-to-one final ITC ruling acquitted importers from the six countries -- Argentina, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Thailand and Japan -- of injury charges filed by U.S. steelworkers and labor unions last year.
The decision removed the threat of punitive duties by the Commerce Department, which could have been as high as 80 percent.
The ruling is expected to deal a blow to President Bill Clinton's steel policy, which is aimed at curbing import surges with the threat of imposing punitive tariffs that correspond to dumping margins.