For Immediate Release: January 4, 2008
Contact: Brittany Eck   (202) 482-3809

COMMERCE FINDS UNFAIR DUMPING OF CERTAIN STEEL PIPE FROM CHINA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation on imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from the People’s Republic of China. Commerce determined that Chinese producers/exporters sold certain steel pipe in the United States at up to 51.34 percent less than fair value.

“Price discrimination hurts American manufacturers,” said Assistant Secretary for Import Administration David Spooner. “The Administration is committed to aggressively enforcing America's trade remedy laws in order to achieve strong and fair relationships with our trading partners.”

Circular welded carbon quality steel pipe is used for the conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air, and other liquids and gases in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, and automatic sprinkler systems. The merchandise covered by this investigation includes certain circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes and tubes with an outside diameter of 0.372 inches or more, but not more than 16 inches, generally known as standard pipe and structural pipe. Allied Tube & Conduit (IL); IPSCO Tubulars, Inc. (KY); Northwest Pipe Company (OR); Sharon Tube Company (PA); Western Tube & Conduit Corporation (CA); Wheatland Tube Company (NJ); and the United Steelworkers (PA) are the petitioners for these investigations.

Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value. As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise and to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates.

For more information about Import Administration or for the fact sheet on today’s decision, please visit www.trade.gov/ia.

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