Canada Imposes Duties on U.S. Steel Imports : Trade: Five other nations are cited for unfair pricing. The move retaliates for a recent U.S. action against Canadian steelmakers.

In a move that raises the stakes in a growing global trade war, Canada on Friday imposed duties on steel imports from six countries, including the United States, as a punishment for dumping steel at less than fair prices.

The announcement came just two days after the United States slapped its own duties on steel imports from 19 nations, including Canada.

Meanwhile, Japan, also facing duties in the United States, said Friday that it would impose duties on imports of a Chinese material used in making steel. In the Japanese government’s first such action, duties of between 4.5% and 27.2% will be imposed on ferro-silicon manganese imports from China as of Feb. 3.

The government said it has been investigating dumping complaints by the Japan Ferro-Alloy Assn. since 1991. South Africa and Norway were reportedly cleared of the charge because their infractions were far less serious. China accounts for one-third of all of Japan’s imports of ferro-silicon manganese.

In Canada, Revenue Canada, a government agency, said Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, Britain and the United States had dumped hot-rolled carbon steel sheet products into Canada. The largest use for the steel products is in the automotive industry.

Duties on 11 U.S. companies ranged from a low of 4.3% to a high of 55.4%. The other countries were hit with duties ranging from 20.9% to 124.2%.

Canada began its investigation in reaction to complaints by two of its largest integrated steel producers, Algoma Steel Inc. and Stelco Inc.

The United States imposed its duties Wednesday, hitting Canadian steelmakers with a 69% penalty.

Other countries were hit harder by Washington, including Brazil, which had a 109% tariff imposed on it.

Responding Friday, Brazil said in Geneva that it had complained about the duties to the ruling council of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Canada and the European Community, among others, have expressed serious concern about the U.S. action.

The EC, which had seven of its 12 members cited by the United States, called the U.S. duties “unwarranted.”