Steel firms in seven countries have been cleared of charges they were dumping structural steel beams in the U.S. market. U.S. Trade Commission ruled 4-1 in mid-June that imports of steel beams from China, Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, South Africa, Spain and Taiwan weren't harming U.S. steelmakers.

Earlier, the Commerce Department had cleared two Chinese steel companies of beam-dumping accusations after U.S. regulators determined they hadn't sold products in the U.S. at prices below what they were charging for the same items at home.

Meanwhile, all five ITC commissioners found no evidence of material injury or threatened injury to U.S. firms from the importation of circular welded non-alloy steel pipe imported from China. Commerce previously had suggested these products had been sold here at less than fair value but not less than home prices.