TRADE CASES HEADLINESTrade Cases
Commerce Initiates Investigations of Seamless Pipe from China
Oct. 9, 2009 The U.S. Department of Commerce announced it will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on imports of seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from P.R. China.
The products covered by these investigations, currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States under many categories, include such pipes that are less than or equal to 16 inches (406.4 mm) in outside diameter. These products are intended for the conveyance of water, steam, petrochemicals, chemicals, oil products, natural gas, and other liquids and gasses in industrial piping systems.
From 2006 to 2008, imports of seamless pipe from China increased 131.52% by volume and were valued at an estimated $382 million in 2008.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or about November 2.
If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication of real or threatened material injury to the domestic industry due to these imports, the Commerce Department’s investigations will continue. In that case, Commerce will be scheduled to make its preliminary countervailing duty determination in December, and its preliminary antidumping determination in February 2010.
Petitioners for these investigations are United States Steel Corp., Pa., V&M Star LP, Tex., TMK Ipsco, Ill., and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, Pa.
Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than normal value. Subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit the production, manufacture, or exportation of goods.