More Chip Dumping Charged

WASHINGTON —  The Commerce Department today accused Japan of illegally dumping sophisticated computer memory chips in U.S. markets. The ruling automatically triggers stiff tariffs on Japanese D-RAM chips, a major component in personal computers and other consumer electronic equipment.

In announcing the preliminary ruling, Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldrige cited U.S. industry estimates of a loss of $900 million in sales. The decision came two days after the agency filed a similar ruling on another type of computer chip. But today’s ruling covers the basic computer circuit that is used in most home computers.