NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department...

NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday it will slap anti-dumping duties on certain hot-rolled steel products from seven countries in a preliminary ruling that followed a complaint by U.S. steelmakers last year.

The countries affected by the ruling are Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Commerce said it will announce its final determination by Aug. 3.

Last August, AK Steel Corp , ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corp NUE.N , U.S. Steel Corp X.N , SSAB Enterprises SSABa.ST and Steel Dynamics Inc STLD.O complained the imported steel goods, used for manufacturing a wide range of products, were being sold too cheaply or benefited from unfair government subsidies.

Steelmakers worldwide have struggled for years as a global surplus has expanded, weighing on prices and stoking tensions between major exporting countries. Last month, the European Union launched probes into China's steel imports.

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For more details on Wednesday's ruling, see:		http://1.usa.gov/1ptnVJG)  

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